“Hello God, How are You, Sir?.. I was wondering…”

“They keep running around.”

“Where do they keep running, my Lord?”

“In the blistering, thorny, spiky, suffering and problem-filled deserted Death Valley of the world.

“By constantly changing and transmigration from one life form to another, in the ups and downs, toils and turmoils, they keep running until they attain my mystical secret.”

“Oh, what is your mystical secret, my Lord?”

“True Understanding of what, who, and how I am, and the mystery of my appearance and performances.”

“What is the mystery of your performances?”

“I am unmanifest, and the entire manifest world is expanded in me.”

“Okay, you mean just like a seed exists in a tree, and the tree in the seed, like that?”

“No, not exactly. Because all of the world and beings are in me, but I am not in them.

“Take it like this, perfume permeates the air, but air is not in the perfume. It is separate and distinct. Air is permeated in the sky, but sky is separate and uninvolved from air. That’s why when the perfume is gone and a skunk sprays her odor, the air becomes like that. But again, when the wind blows the smell floats off; yet air still remains. The sky still remains when the storms, wind, and hot and cold currents disperse. Even in outerspace where there is no air, there is sky.

“Just like, in the root, stem, leaves, and flowers of the lotus, water is permeating, but water is distinct from the lotus. The lotus cannot exist without water, but water exists day and night without the beauty of the lotus.

“The same way, I am permeating all beings, in all situations, in all forms of the world, but I am not in them…”

“Oh my Lord, this is so strange! That’s a miracle!”

“That’s my Godhood, the splendor of my vibhuti. To understand this, life is given to you.”

In order to understand this point, this book is being presented. It is this alone which brings meaning to life. And when meaning comes, life attains fulfillment.

“Oh lotus eyed Rama, please tell this Royal Assembly today the cause of your despondency? Why has this melancholy descended? From where has this untimely nausea toward everything arisen? Please be assured that we will eliminate all of your misery rapidly. We will give you such a knowledge and understanding that, just as a rat cannot bite the sky, this problem and suffering will never henceforth agonize you.”

Hearing the assuring words of Sage Visvamitra, Sri Rama looked up and saw his father seated on a golden throne and by his side the two illustrious sages. White fans were being waved behind them and the entire assembly was filled with kings and citizens. Sri Rama became pleased as a peacock does seeing the rumbling clouds in the rainy season.

Sri Rama said,

“Illustrious sage, the day I began to consider upon the meaning of life my entire belief system was taken over by the current of my thought process. My faith in the well-established traditional social and international customs, order, and establishment has been shattered, just like a vine devastated and swept away in the swift, raging throws of a maddening Midwest tornado.

“I now feel that it is only due to the old patterns and conditionings of my mind that I tag certain people, places, things and situations by particular names and qualities, and consider them good or bad, joyous or tortuous. I believe that one becomes prejudiced by their own mental projection that there is any joy in eating hotdogs and pizza, in dressing nicely, hearing rock music, making love, or going sight-seeing. My thinking has led me to a state of understanding where I find that things are neither pleasurable nor non-pleasurable, and in fact, where their very existence is highly questionable. I have glimpses of the world just like a man, who, thirsty and starving, runs fast in a shining, hot, sandy desert only to find a mirage and become heartbroken, hopeless and confused. Similarly people of the world are running fast, and very efficiently, to get some sweetly cherished joy or peace that was never, nor will ever be there.

“Obsession with sensations, Oh sage, seems to me to be like the silent in-creeping of a dangerous disease like tuberculosis or HIV. And it is this by which souls transmigrate from one body to another, endlessly. Therefore, the happiness of the world seems

to me to be a terribly serious delusion, where the same thing, which seemed pleasurable will become a source of suffering very soon. I feel pity on people of low IQ’s who are obsessed with their faulty faith in the pleasures of this ephemeral world.

“Just as solid rock has no hole, the rock of sensation cannot have any joy. Hankering for objects of sensation, mind keeps roasting in the fire of expectation.

“Wealth is nothing but a heavy humbug. It is a source of great stress, anxiety, and trouble; and when it is lost it pinches the heart like a bullet shot from a .45 caliber pistol.

“Just as, over a vat of quicksand a thin, green, grassy carpet is spread, and innocently a toddler runs to play there, and falling in suffers drastically, the same way, uniformed people look at beautiful ladies or handsome gents and torment for them. So they marry with great expectation but soon fall in the mire of unnecessary, relentless years of work, duty and responsibility, just to get lost. They never find the track back to the original and foremost duty for which one is born and provided with this precious life by Mother Nature. Instead, life continues to become more and more meaningless.

“Then mire after mire, trap after trap, and ditch after ditch arise as one falls into various identifications of body, and even more bodies after death. Aeons pass by, but the day of understanding never dawns.

“In the night of ignorance the thief of sensation steals away the opportunity to restore the wealth of Self experience. A passionate person has no brain. His talking, walking and existing are all in vain. Because misunderstood and misguided he tries to squeeze sand to get oil. He mistakes a stone for a flower, and smelling it over and over wonders why he can’t enjoy the perfume. Spot chews his bone in the corner until his gums bleed, and tasting that blood he is ready to kill anything that might try take his tasty bone away. Similarly, those who work hard for sensational pleasures and rationalize their race to squeeze pleasure from worldly objects, have sunk to a very low level of consciousness.

“Passionate clinging to wealth and the association of wealth mongerers drives away amiability, contentment, generosity, softness and mercifulness, just as the scorching rays of the summer sun singe the delicate slopes of grass. And just as water freezes into ice at zero degrees celsius, people become hard and ice-like when they hit the mark of their preconceived limit of wealth.

“Waves come and go in the ocean, and lightning flashes and disappears into darkness, the same way pleasures come and go in wealth, because wealth is rooted in hankering. Milk is as sweet as nectar as long as a snake has not tasted it. The same way, hankering is a snake to the milk of life. I don’t want it to bite my life anymore.

“Wealth is like a flame; as long as it indulges in sensational actions it keeps extinguishing. Then, as a flame leaves soot in its wake, wealth too leaves the dirt of hankering and the filth of desiring which engenders birth and death in endless cycles.

“The milk of wealth serves only to sharpen the poison of the snake of hankering. Romantic dreams are like fortifying calcium, and vitamin D, which make the snake that much stronger.

“Wealth born of spiritual thick-headedness is like a mad elephant storming through Macy’s or the Presidential convention center. For the lotuses of higher qualities and detachment, wealth is like a hailstorm. For the night-blooming lilies of ignorance, it is like a sweet evening. It is like the invisible planet Rahu that eclipses the moon of knowledge. To the world of delusion, it is intense darkness. To the lightning of mental problems, wealth is like a vast sky. It is like a wind that scatters the clouds of wise thoughts and ideas. Its beauty is like the beauty of a shining, sharp sword. Water becomes ice, the same way under the mentally and spiritually inefficient coldness of wealth, people become rocky-eyed, stony-hearted, and completely dull-witted.

“Therefore I have abandoned using anything or attracting anybody who is at all related to the world of the rich and famous. Oh sage, the maids and butlers may feel that I have sunk into melancholy, but I have not. I am just being a little careful and considerate over the process of my life’s course.

“Books are a burden if one fails to develop discretion. Education is a burden if one fails to attain the meaning of life. Mind is a burden if one fails to find peace in thinking. Life is a burden if one does not learn to soar above the body.

“Just like, by digging a well one obtains water, the same way by practicing a method one attains the desired goal. For such attainment, will is the way.

“The body is always dying, and life is constantly moving towards death. Just like a frog fallen in the mouth of a cobra tries to eat a mosquito, the same way, fallen in the jaws of death, humans keep hankering for sensual objects.

“Any life where a quest for Truth and a search for Self realization is not lit, and which does not contemplate the meaning of life, is in vain. Without these, childhood, youth, and old age become nothing more than a method of prolonged suicide.

“One cannot cross a river by holding the tail of a snake. Finding worldly things pleasurable, how can one attain the altar of Truth?

“A rainbow in Molokai is of course very beautiful, but how can it satisfy my hunger? It will never quench my thirst. The same way, through the illusory glamours of the world, I cannot realize the ultimate happiness and bliss. And I want to know the Truth. I see whatever is done by ego becoming futile, like pouring gas in the oil tank and oil in the gas tank, pouring oblations into ashes, or using a cup with no bottom.

“Ego is a hole where the snakes, scorpions and tarantulas of lust, rage, greed, and jealousy love to hide. Hankering is like a thread upon which flower garlands of these snakes and scorpions are made, and which ego-obsessed persons keep wearing as they enjoy the world. Can such a person ever be happy? Please tell me, how can I relinquish this ego?

“Ego is hiding inside the house of this body and making noises all the time, like a ghost. It never quiets down. And as long as the boat of this life is lying beached on the sands of sensational hankering, we do not move a single inch toward conscious evolution.

“When the water of body detachment grows and brings our boat upon the waves, and a current builds to a strong flow, and the motor of meditation practice propels the boat forward, then life begins to move toward a higher meaning. But still, the barracudas of old prejudices, the sharks of wrong beliefs, and the piranha of materialistic thought patterns keep feasting on the scar tissue of ego. One must be very careful so their boat of spiritual life is not grabbed and savagely destroyed. Hankering is a hole in this boat. Let that not be. Hankering flourishes when nourished by body identification.

“To this tree of body-consciousness, the hands and feet are boughs, the fingers are leaves, the teeth are flowers, the thighs its trunk, and the knees its blossoms. Nurtured by the waters of karma it grows. The cobra of desire lives in this body tree. Whoever takes shelter of it to enjoy a while, is bitten by that cobra with his poisonous fangs. Then that seeker of respite becomes spiritually swooned, if not dead. The ego-ghost lives in this tree too, and the hankering goblin lives with him. The mind vampire lives there too. And passion, anger, greed, jealousy, and fear are their sons, daughters, and kinsmen. This army of ghouls keeps mankind hypnotized with horror.

“In a dumb state, now happy, now miserable, one feels helpless like an a child. Though possessing infinite potency inside, encaged in a child’s body, one feels imprisoned and poor. Powerlessness, stupidity, too many desires, inconsistency, unnecessary fear, restlessness, misery, agony, and monkey-like turbulence is the nature of a child. And whoever is attracted to a child becomes stupid or acts like a clown. Childish mind is like a prostitute, which doesn’t stay with any one object, and never knows if it is good or bad for him. He cries just for eating and drinking or going somewhere to involve in nonsense activities.

“As the lotus expands its petals when the sun rises, so young age brings the flies and bees of desire which come rushing down seeing the large expansion of the petals of ego, ambition, rage, lust, jealousy, and greed. They enjoy it with these gangsters. Youth is synonymous to desertification of discretion, peace, contentment, and detachment. The body of a young lady or a young man is nothing but a bundle of flesh hung on a cage of bones, suffused with flowing flood. Urine and feces are always dripping from the bladder and rectum. All Mr. and Ms. Universes are made of these. Just like the beauty of nature looks wonderful from a distance but when one goes closer it’s only clay, water, stones, and rough trees with beastly animals moving around. Such are the bodies of young persons. A young man’s mind is like a foolish and crazy puffed up elephant, who seeing a female elephant runs down with great passion only to fall headlong in the hunter’s pit placed in between.

“By seeing a each other, young men and young ladies are grabbed by their lunatic minds. By teaching each other their power of freedom is destroyed. By remembering each other their hearts burn. By making love precious semen and ovum are flushed down the toilet. Henpecked ones have no clear thought. They remain too blind in the world of farsighted people who qualify for higher knowledge. By embracing a cobra or a blazing fire one cannot enjoy peace. So also by embracing the bundle of flesh, blood, and bones known as youth how can one feel peace?

“Young age is a devouring tree. One’s limbs are the boughs, one’s senses are the leaves, the breasts are the blossoms, and eyes the flowers. Smiles, glances, laughter and other arts of attraction are traps in which the deer-like mind of lusty people becomes entangled. And racing forward to the cliff of romantic climax, from where there is no path leading back, there is no other way but to fall headlong into the ditch of bottomless spiritual suicide. A beautiful boyfriend or girlfriend is like a mental cobra; thinking of whom poison spreads in the body and mind. Tied with the rope of love we drive downtown on dates, but there the knife of hankering slices down our intelligence and higher possibilities, ruining our bright future.

“One who is saved from the horrible night of lust and the sword of conjugal attraction in the battlefield of young age, is a true man or woman of freedom. Such a one is the object of my aspiration.

“The fever of ambition and attachment becomes old. Then the banker, searching for new involvements, finds it in stylish new cars, homes, clothes, family, and exciting friends. His dreams of high standards for his sons and daughters become fanatic. This concern and anguish for credit, record, fame, honor and prestige is so strong that it devours all peace of mind and real success which he had so carefully gleaned from the passage of his stormy youth. Then one keeps feeling inferiority complexes seeing the creeping symptoms of old age. Looking at his/her white hair, shaking teeth, growing belly, aching back, and retarding mental faculties, one loses heart in life. But ego takes another turn towards social work. Growing old the body becomes thin, weak, diseased, and senility grows. Forgetfulness encroaches, wrinkles spread, kidney troubles ensue, indigestion begins, and eyesight starts to fail, then hearing too is lost. At last people carry you down to the hospital or convalescent home where death’s loud steps find you, and you’re dead.

“Just as a rat eats a ripe pomegranate, likewise time consumes all visible objects in the world.

“It swallows the entire world, including all of your honeysuckle days, wealth, life, relations, high fame, beauty, and power. The wheel of time keeps spinning, twisting and turning over all beings who are tied tightly to it through the ropes of duty and responsibility, and good and bad action. It keeps slicing us up like a butcher cuts cheese through his self-sharpening knife of day and night. Time keeps playing handball with the sun, moon, and planets. Time is like a million mile tall psychotic schizophrenic who wears a grisly garland of heads of the trillions of people and creatures that he has mercilessly slain. And it keeps paring all men, women, mind, perspective, place, rivers, mountains, cities, and nations alike.

“Time is like a gigantic cosmic cook who places the grains of beings in the pots and pans of the world on the fire of love and hate, and stirring and turning them through the spoon of karma, and keeps on cooking. He is so cruel and merciless that no one and nothing is spared. Our loving pets are gone, such lovely lovers and beloveds are whisked away and dropped into the soup of death; such kind-hearted, wise men are gone, cooked, chewed and devoured.

“Time is the greatest monster, and Desire the biggest monstress. They are always on a hunting expedition. They look terrible. They are fond of drastic adventures and have horrifying fun as their most fierce hobby.

“The sky is their head, earth their feet, the ten directions their hands, the seven oceans their bangles, the entire earth their bone china. All the beings of 8,400,000 life forms are their food. Our nearing death is the cooking stew. The Himalayas and Mt. Meru are their earrings. The sun and moon are their eyes, and the stars their hair decorations.

“Beautiful people, places, things, and situations are born out of them, but soon are destroyed by them too. They make the oceans and then set them on fire. They make lotuses and then shower snow. They make and then run, never allowing anyone to be peaceful forever.

“In their hand is the bow of loss and the string of work. They are shooting the arrows of love and hate in all directions, while dancing ferociously. Oh sages, could you please stop this for me?

“Hankering is like a river. As long as the body is young and fresh, hankering appears beautiful in the forms of creativity, accomplishment, success, and material, social, national, and international development.

“When one grows old and their teeth start falling out, bones start cracking, and weakness of senses takes over, the ability of enjoying one’s accomplishments becomes tasteless and useless. But no information has been received of any other dimension, therefore hankering goes on doing pushups inside and keeps knocking and banging the door, screaming, groaning, grumbling and irritating all. I consider a man of strength only he or she who has won the urges and movements of this crazy hankering, desiring mind, dear sage. But in general, it goes on drowning everything just like a mighty flooding river of the Himalayas, gushes and dashes the two mighty trees of detachment and contentment in its midst.

“Somehow I have realized all of this. I have observed the world carefully and come to this conclusion. I have saved both of these trees from being dragged down into the inundating waves of the river of fruitless hankering.

“Now I watch another tall, bushy, gigantic tree which goes by the name of delusion. It is completely enveloped by the tight poisonous vines of romanticism. The mind bee runs down to sit on the flowers of foreplay, lovemaking, seeing and listening to erotic music and sights. Drinking up the nectar of these flowers the mind bee dies down right there, spiritually swooned. He wakes up again only when an astral bee picks up the poisonous juice of these flowers and makes a thick bee hive on the top of the tree of delusion. There no wise man’s eyes can ever fall, nor his hands of blessing ever reach. Thus, gathering the poisonous honey of vasanas (instincts) and samskaras (urges) based on past actions, he goes on killing everyone by his touch, presence, and look, which are like a terrible sting.

“Just like a mountain is full of stones, the earth is filled with clay, a tree is full of wood, and ocean is full of water, the human body is full of flesh, blood, bones, and dirt, made of the five elements, formed of the triplicity of nature. But beyond that, what is— what exists there— that is what I am unable to figure out, my dear, omniscient, Holy Sire. That is why I am sad, despondent and melancholy. I am trying and trying and I just can’t get it, help me, Holy Sire, help me.

“All associations of the world and relations in life, and in turn all duties, responsibilities and words are just like someone going on a holy pilgrimage by foot, train, or plane, who waits for his or her next connection under the shade of a tree and meets other travellers while resting. The same way, one’s family, parents, brothers, sisters, wife, children, and friends are all just like those travellers waiting for the next connection, under the shade of the tree of one’s home sweet home. All are mere chance relations passing in the flowing flood of time. As soon as the plane arrives, they have to depart. Lamenting doesn’t work, crying doesn’t look nice, grabbing someone’s hand doesn’t show literacy, remembering them and not taking care of one’s spiritual progress doesn’t reveal any sign of higher education.

“Illegally we have tightened our ropes of I-ness and my-ness onto the wrong persons, places and things. Because of this tight preoccupation, the ropes of I-ness and my-ness in the form of binding impressions keep us uniting with and separating from newer and newer items of life, which always seem to be different but are vaguely familiar, just like a team of bulls circumambulating round and around a grinding wheel extract ever-new but always the same oil for their master.

“I know, Holy Sire, that name and form have a coming-close and going-away nature, just like a yellowed leaf or ripened fruit fallen from their place on the tree, cannot be stuck back again, and won’t look nice even if they are. The same way, relationships, duties and responsibilities are just bulldozers or tanks to flatten uncultured patterns of selfishness and habits of exploiting others. To keep one organized and get one balanced, all of these are like a finger pointing to the goal of enlightenment when one is ready.

“Just like, when leaves and branches of a tree are broken by the wind it is not possible to combine them back. One cannot even glue them back where they came from, the same way it is not possible to unite with the Self once one gets split from its experience and is sunk into body and senses.

“Oh, where there used to be wonderful groves, parks and green trees, it is now a vacant Sahara desert. Where there used to be beautiful hills, dales and valleys, there is now a swelling ocean. Where there used to be nothing but clear, empty space, there is now a crowded city, resounding with rock and roll music and ear-deafening noise. Who were young before are now old, and the previous elderly are now dead. Little kids are now running for governor, and good men are now bad. See, the bad are now good. Whom should I trust and live with? Like the turbulent, naughty mind of a child, this world keeps changing haphazardly. It doesn’t care for good or bad, or even loss or gain. Sometimes men become women, at other times women become men. Then men at times become animals, and animals become men. Men become trees, and trees become angles, such is the jugglery of this world.

“The ups and downs keep changing, rolling, rotating, and gliding. And it is all due to vasana, the desire of indulgence in new actions just for fun, for change, for survival, which keeps it rolling. Desire is like a rope in which all beings are sewed on like beads.

“It is the desire for joy which creates bondage. And with passionate clinging to the idea of enjoying beyond the Self, the knots of bondage continue to tighten.

“Benign Sage, I can see clearly through my third eye the real condition. Since the desire to enjoy is the main anti-self-realization, I would like my body electrocuted by a thunderbolt or sliced into pieces by a sword before I become allured to sensual pleasure. I will hold a rock of patience on my chest, before I wish to enjoy the objects of pleasure, even a little. Because I know very well that just like water doesn’t sit in the palm for long, and lightning doesn’t last, the object of senses and hours of life do not protract. Just like a hook gets stuck in the throat of a fish, or a porcupine gets stuck in the hole of a snake, just like a deer dies running for water in the mirage (not ever knowing that it was never really there), such is the joy of the world. Humans suffer only because they desire. Desire creates illusion. Illusion creates the world appearance which never was, never is, and never will be.

“Desire and failure, failure and desire, are just like the margosa tree. The margosa tree becomes more and more bitter as it ages, and so does the mind. Long, arduous, horrendous, laborious work looks like it gains so much, but still feels as though it has gotten nothing at all. In the end it feels that it was just fooling around. This makes mind bitter. And as one ages, agitation, irritation, and pointless long talking grow, all of which are born out of inner bitterness at life’s utter failure.

“Life is so short; just like water on a lotus leaf, morning dew, or the smile of a miserly man. As a cat catches a rat, a snake catches a frog, or a lion catches a deer, so death, one day, catches everyone. Being dragged by death, entrapped and bound in a net of hankering, the bird of my soul cries in anguish.

“Oh great Sage, I have fallen in terrible trouble. I am in the king of all troubles; the very trouble of troubles. I am suffering from a serious disease named cholera. I am suffering from a serious mental disease of hallucination, schizophrenia, and identity crisis. That is why my intelligence seems mummified and covered in dust. And that is why the world appearance is so strong before me.

“How can this blot and blemish be removed? How will I be able to rise above ego and hankering? Please, tell me the way. Know for sure, until you begin, I will keep sitting here like a painted portrait on paper, not moving, not functioning. My breath will soon slow down and cease to flow just like a flame extinguishes of its own when its oil is consumed. So also my life will evaporate in the eternal sky.”

Saying this, with all the depths of his heart, Prince Rama became silent, like a lone bamboo in a forest, or a peacock gazing at a rainy cloud.

A pin-drop silence prevailed. At that the entire Royal assembly filled with sages, kings, and queens, guests, ministers, princess, and the entire State’s citizens became struck with wonder. Their limbs were thrilled. Even the parrots in their cages, and pets in the gardens, the horses in the stables and birds in the trees became still and absorbed in the inconceivable.

Angels in the sky dropped fragrant flowers like waves of milk and beads of pearls as their limbs became loose and slack and they could no longer hold anything.

Then in the sky there suddenly appeared a brilliant light which began descending toward the Earth. Therein everyone saw the great celestial sages of the angelic world descending. They were adorned in different colored silk clothes. Angira, Pulastya, Bhrigu, Brihaspati, Pulah, Durvasa, and Narada walked into the assembly like masters of the entire universe. Both of the Sages Vasistha and Visvamitra seated on the royal stage, along with King Dasaratha, stood up in their welcome, and honored them. They offered them gold thrones and maidens appeared to offer them refreshments and fan them with white whisks. Then with great love they said,

“Prince Rama, great is your understanding. We have come to listen to the enlightening discourse which is about to take place here. You will attain the Truth and become like one of us. We want to see this sacred, historic event with our own eyes.”

And thus all of them sat on those beautiful thrones and once again a pin-drop silence spread. And, except for the perfumes of the flowers which had just fallen in showers from above, no one moved at all.

Unconditioning the Conditioning of the Search

“Bravo, Bravo, Sri Rama.” After a prolonged period of silence, a great applause rang out in the Assembly Hall. Everyone honored Rama’s wise words with cheers of gratitude. At last when the hall quieted and all the guests were settled in their seats, Sage Visvamitra greeted Prince Rama. Congratulating him, he spoke,

“You have searched so desperately, and your quest was so intense, Rama, that you have reached the point where your patterns of searching consciousness will not let you enjoy the bliss of enlightenment!

“Just like a mountain hiker climbs and climbs and fails to enjoy the natural beauty on the height until he knows he has reached his final destination, or a runner needs to settle his breath and blood pressure before enjoying his first prize, and a swimmer, winner, or successor have to become aware that they have reached their goals before they can be assured, so Rama, you have attained. The only barrier left is your own searching. A weapon is needed to conquer the enemy but when the whole world is conquered, the weapon is no longer necessary. All that’s needed is to enjoy the victory. So you too have only one duty left: to enjoy your attainment. And this requires a final touch to your enlightenment.

“Rama, you are like young Yogi Shukadeva who was born in the last Copper Age. He asked his revered father, Sage Vyasa, one day,

“Reverend Father, from where, after all, has this world come up, and how can one transcend its complications?”

“Vyasa replied but Shuka said he already knew that. Then he asked him to go and visit King Janaka. Shukadeva went to the capital of Mithila and asked to be admitted. After receiving a message from the palace, the gatekeeper replied, “The King is very busy. You’ll have to wait.” So there he stood for seven days.

“What is the condition of the kid?” the King inquired after seven days.

“He is just standing their, Your Majesty, like a long, lost pet waiting for you,” the gatekeeper replied.

“Okay then, take him into the women’s gymnasium.” The King said. And turning to his chief minister he added,

“Engage a dozen teenage girls to serve and entertain our guest. Feed him sumptuously. Bathe him royally. Let everyone know that whoever pleases him the most will be rewarded abundantly.”

After seven days the King asked his chief minister, “How is the kid?”

“Your Highness, he accepts only the bare necessities with great indifference. He is not attracted to anything. He is still just waiting for you.”

“Okay then, go and bring him here,” the King ordered.

When Shuka came the King stood up and offered his obeisance. Offering him a gold throne, the King sat on a lower seat. Then he asked,

“Holy Sire, what service can I do for you?”

“Dear King, please tell me how this glamour of world appearance has come about and how can it disappear?”

“The origin of the world appearance is vibrant consciousness, of which this mind is a small part. It is disconnected from the source, Bramha, and identified with outer illusions. When you withdraw your awareness and have a nice retreat into the state of Mystica Transcensia, and start becoming familiar with glimpses of Bramha, then the entire energy starts flowing inward and the world appearance drops off.”

“But Sir, I already know that,” Shukadeva said.

“Holy Sire, I already know that you know this, but your leftover impressions of desperate search for the Truth, which have been so intense and fiery for several years over your past several lifetimes, haven’t allowed you to believe you have attained enlightenment. Even now you don’t feel that you have attained. Therefore, I shall have to give your enlightenment a final touch through a personal demonstrations. Please stay here a few days. I won’t teach you or give you any spiritual practice of any kind. I’ll just be deconditioning your conditioning of intensive searching. That’s all.”

“And in a few days his enlightenment became unconditioned from the deep patterns of tormenting search and he understood. Then the King and his palace offered Yogi Shukadeva a warm farewell. He went to the Himalayas and sat in deep meditation. And just as when oil is consumed, the flame extinguishes, his I-ness evaporated. And as a drop merges in the ocean, and at dusk the sunshine merges in the sun, so Shuka became merged in Bramha. Ten thousand years passed like a moment. When he opened his eyes again he was blissed out.

“As Shuka was brilliant and efficient in understanding, Prince Rama, you too are so wise.

“There are four gradual conditionings of this world appearance: (1) Conditionings of physical sensational joys; (2) Conditionings of reputation, character, and fame; (3) Conditionings of being highly educated and knowledgeable; (4) Conditionings of intensive search for the Truth.

“Each individual is in a certain evolutionary stage of life. Now the last stage is predominant in you. This will be eliminated in your father’s Royal Assembly by the sagacious words of Sage Vasistha. Therefore I request the all-knowing Sage to begin his fantastic discourse on this topic.”

Now the attention of the audiences became fixed on Rama, whom they now knew to be as good as enlightened. Their hearts were joyous and elated for him, and thankful to Sage Visvamitra. With a warm round of applause they thanked both of them and became quiet again.

Flowers showered and everyone’s attention shifted to Sage Vasistha, seated cross-legged on a gold throne in the center of the stage, in sambhan mudra (eyes 3/4 closed). He opened his eyes and looked all around the hall, then to the newly arrived guests of other planets, then to Sage Visvamitra, then to the King, and at last to Prince Rama. He smiled and began to speak —

“Dear Rama, to consider the necessity of thought and one’s relationship with it, is impurity. Impurity causes conditioning, and conditioning gives birth to this illusory world appearance. The reality of this world appearance depends solely upon how thick and dense one’s conditioning is.” And he paused and began again,

“True wisdom is born only out of discretion, and never out of repeated modifications of thought. This is a very personal experience. Just because a pen is beautiful and perhaps the writing too, it doesn’t mean that the writer will necessarily be beautiful as well. Similarly, if one’s thinking principles are pure and clean, one’s actions may be beautiful, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the actor will be. Whether the actor is pure and beautiful depends solely upon his or her dropping all relation with thinking principles.

“”Prince Rama, you are a brilliant recipient of the highest wisdom, just as my dear friend Sage Visvamitra has pointed out. I will be discoursing such topics to you through which you will transcend the fourth conditioning and become established in enlightenment permanently. But for this there is one qualification.

“A cow’s milk and Ganga water are pure and sacred, but if they are touched by a diseased corpse even they become impure. The same way, this knowledge which I will be delivering unto you is ageless, motiveless, and transcendent; but still, if it is touched by the mind of one who has not transcended the allurements of the glamorous world, it can become impure and useless. This understanding is like the milk of a powerful lioness: only a cub can digest it.

“One has to digest it and make it their own personal asset through intellectualization, or else it may kill a person’s higher sensibilities.

“Without a proper pot, nectar cannot be served. You are the most qualified pot for this wisdom. You are free from lust, rage, greed, thanatos, and the lunatic race for sense gratification. You are serene, placid, and peaceful. Because of this, I will tell you the ancient wisdom which was imparted to me by my Reverend father Bramh?ji.

“Sri Rama, each of the conditionings are vast steel traps. They are bars to one’s freedom, and the greatest hurdles to one’s Enlightenment. They have to be transcended. The way of transcendence is self-effort. Avoid all kinds of fatalistic instincts and cling to self-effort. Self-effort is such an invincible method that boarding on it even a crippled, paralyzed dunce can develop an enormous power to turn the world upside down.

“One’s self-effort has to be based on a divinely ordained way of life called dharma. And dharma is always one. The one universal Vedic principal of life. No matter how great and marvelous a desire you have, no matter how weak, down-trodden, poor, or sick you are, by taking shelter of Vedic dharma, and staunchly performing your allotted duties, just as a lion breaks out of his case and runs away, you will definitely attain the Supreme.

“Whatever wrong you do, wipe out its impression by doing an equally heavy duty good act before the sun sets. Keep on wiping out all of those negative thought patterns, instincts, and intentions. No matter how forceful, or even prenatal the negative patterns you have, they can be minimized and dismissed. Then you can refix yourself along with all of your conditionings.

“Just as you cannot see without light, and you’ll never get oil out of stone, the same way, a fatalist (someone who believes in providence, or who is dependent upon time, helpers, places, circumstances, or even a god) cannot attain fulfillment. Such a person is like one who looks at his hand and believing that it is a dreadful cobra runs around everywhere trying to strangle it.

“My child Rama, what you call fate or providence or god’s will is nothing more than previously performed self-effort. Your efforts, addressed towards wrong goals, have formed the boundary line of your belief in the world. And these keep on shifting from one wrong belief to another, until and unless you realize that the only true goal is to decondition the conditionings and start over again. This is compulsory for evolution of consciousness leading to Enlightenment.

“The fruits of long-performed self-effort may get destroyed like crops in a hailstorm, but self-effort is solid and invincible only when these don’t matter anymore.

“Being equal in success and failure, perform mighty actions ordained by the Divine.

“Adopt and stick to your life duty. Practice to stay in the association of wisemen. Every night introspect what wrong and right acts you’ve done during the day, and retreat from the wrong. A fool and wise man have only one difference, because both do mistakes. The wise may do even more mistakes, but they never make the same mistakes again and again. So, every night, plan not to lose track of your kindness, patience, contentment, and uninvolvement the following day.

“Just like ponds and lakes fill with water through the power of clouds, similarly, by the clouds of discretion the shower of nice ideas will fill your life’s pond with the waters of super-fine qualities. And these exceptional qualities will flush away all of your old, rotten, prenatal, non-progressive habits and attitudes.

“The real beasts, animals, ghosts, and hyperactive, hectic, workaholic people are only those who have lost track and abandoned the path of self-effort. They have gotten lost in the forest of complication, and have no idea how to get out. And since they find no exit, they have rationalized their downfall and established their own normal standards of living. To my utter amaze, they call themselves highly evolved and praise their own societies and cultures, though they are riddled with greed, tension, violence, and war. This makes me feel great pity and sick.

“And when at last they wipe out all evidence of the greatness of superior cultures, and portray them in their movies and literature in a degraded fashion, they become too suicidal. They block the passage of their own growth. Many times such cultures evolve good ideas such as those of Napoleon Hill and Dale Carnegie, and declare “We ourselves are the maker of own fate,” and thus they fling open the doors of great energy from which progress flows, but such developments merely serve their ego. Then everything goes in vain. Mostly it leads towards demonic attitudes and destruction.

“Therefore, my dear Rama, self-effort has to be based on the divinely ordained verdicts of the wise who have attained the supreme goal of life.

“In this regard I tell you firmly that such pansy statements as: “Providence will protect me; “God will take care;” or “I’ll do it later” are imaginations of bone-headed people. There is no such thing as fate. It is a meaningless word. If someone is thrown into the fire no one will remain without hectically trying to get out; then why does one not do the same with the fulfillment of their desire? Why do they keep procrastinating and throwing it upon fate?”

“”Holy Sire, but you are saying “fate”, and simultaneously refuting its existence; doesn’t that prove that fate exists? When you say there is no fate, it is void like sky, in a way you also prove fate, Sir,” Rama said.

“Rama, I am using this word so that its image will be wiped out from your mind. That which appears unexpected and sudden, without doing anything, as a gift or disaster, is only an intensified bundle of your own past deeds.

“Prince Rama, Absolute Bramha is like an infinite ocean of eternal Bliss-Consciousness. It is still and silent. The last time it became vibrant and rose in waves, Lord Visnu manifested– Viswa means the Universe and Anu means who permeates in and through all the atoms of it.

“While he was still resting, a lotus stem rose from his navel, and grew and grew and grew. It rose up about four billion miles. Then this lotus bloomed in a million petals and upon the pericarp Lord Bramh? was born along with his celestial planet Bramh?loka. From his mind, like the flow of a river, the world began pouring out. And the Cosmic Egg, complete with six main celestial planets above, and six main subterranean regions below, along with the earth and galaxies filled with astral planets and stars, was born.

“From all of these, the people and civilizations that we currently know grew and spread. But they became miserable and trapped by their own past and present karma. My Father felt deep compassion for them, just as a father feels for his son. Then he created meritorious deeds such as charity, holy pilgrimage, altruism, humanitarianism, and yaj?a. Performing these sacred acts people began attaining heavenly pleasures. Yet, after achieving these they fell in the trap of sensuality, from which there arose more contest and competition with other meritorious ones. Then they fell back to Earth and suffered anew.

“Because of this he produced tapas, austerity. That was better, but not too much, as instead of competitive and jealous his sons became too dry and vacant. Then he produced dharma, righteous courses of conduct.

“That too led only to higher planets from which coming back, ascending above and descending again were inevitable.

“Finally he decided that the suffering of beings cannot end without the wisdom of Bramha. He closed his eyes and meditated, and there appeared me as an embodiment of the wisdom of Bramha. I was luminous with my shine of Enlightenment. Then my Father thought “Oh, he is born enlightened and I need to give birth to the knowledge of Enlightenment.” So he took me in his lap and turning his palms on my head said, “Child be ignorant.” And, dear Prince, all my wisdom vanished. My mind awoke and took over everything like a mighty ghost possessing me. Then my Atma, my Being, felt like a myth, a fairy tale, some philosophy, or a tree in far distant Antarctica. In turn all that was phantom, illusory, and dreamlike before, such as the existence of the world, became a dire reality to me. Then the glamours of the world fascinated me. I raced until I got hold of them and began to enjoy. But then I became fatally miserable. At that time I asked my Father innumerable questions. He educated me into this wisdom of Enlightenment. Then my ignorance disappeared, and like the sun shines again after coming out of the clouds, I began to shine in my old effulgent glory and grace.

“After this my Father made me the President of the World of Wisdom. He gave me the duty of imparting my knowledge to all the people of the world. He also told me to educate those who are interested in the joys of the world into the Yoga of Action, those who are highly feelingful into the Yoga of Devotion, and those who are dispassionate and highly intelligent into the Yoga of Intellect. Thus this knowledge was born and I came to the planet Earth.”

“Holy Sire, please tell us how you accomplished your mission on Earth?” Sri Rama asked.

“Dear Prince, as the ocean rises into waves, my Father rose from the eternal Bramha. It is not that he created the entire world, time, and people of all kinds. No. It just came through him. He was an instrument, a means, or a passage. Souls already existed from former creations with their various patterns of righteousness and unrighteousness, and in-between tendencies. When they populated the world they obviously chose what was common to them, which they were accustomed to, from former lives. Then naturally, just as before, suffering followed. Then naturally, just as before, they felt stuck in a no-win situation, and dropped into their usual habits of vegetating in suffering. Then my Father sent me and my ten brothers to the Earth.

“We had many meetings, and during these brainstorming sessions we decided to establish states. We introduced the Vedic tradition and inaugurated several dynasties. To the great Kings of these dynasties we gave the wisdom which my Father had awakened me in before. And since it all started out on the planet Earth from kings, therefore this wisdom has become known as Rajavidya or Rajayoga (Royal Understanding).

“Thus kings took charge of organizing the lives of people everywhere, ethically, morally, legally, and socially, and they developed their own justice system. We took care of only those who had transcended all three levels of conditionings and were desperately trying to transcend the fourth. Thus we found time to present the methods as japa, tapas, yaj?a, s?anam, shastras, and puranas.

“Most people transcended only the elementary, barbaric state of mentality. They became civilly, morally, and sociably presentable, but could not refine themselves any further. So they stayed stuck, enjoying regular mediocre pleasures of the senses under the disciplines of the king. Only selected fortunate ones transcended all four conditionings, developing insurmountable quests for Truth.

“By the hit of the blow of hard winds trees fall down, but a Kalpataru (a wish-fulfilling tree) never does. In the same way, one who discovers that the world is only an appearance, and searches desperately for the Truth, alone qualifies for Enlightenment and the real wealth of Life.

“You are the best fertile land I have ever seen, Rama. As a seed is sown on the tilled earth, so also I shall sprinkle the seeds of this highest knowledge in the ploughed field of your awakened discretion. Dear Prince, you are the super-most man because you have the power of self-effort to cross the ocean of this ghastly world appearance.

“Prince, when you have a question, ask it only when you are sure that the person before you has the ability to reply. If someone is able to answer but has no feeling or love for the subject, it is better not to ask. Questioning hypocritically is an offence. There should always be perfect rapport between guru and disciple. You are so wonderful. My teaching will color your heart as saffron colors a shiny white cloth. As the sun’s rays bloom the sunflower, so is your lotus face looking at me. Prince Rama, be firm and come follow me. This you can do only if you can enter the campus of Enlightenment. It has four fantastic doors and four gatekeepers, too. They are as follows:

(1)Shama: To dismiss all fascinations from the world and its gifts, including one’s own body, mind, intellect, and ego, and to consider them as illusory as a buoyant river in a desert.

(2)Santosha: Contentment.

(3)Vichar: Contemplation, introspection and meditation.

(4)Satsang: Association with wisemen

“All of these love each other. Wherever one of their friends resides, all of them come automatically. Even at the cost of life one must attain at least one of these four.

“In the hole of whose heart the cobra of negative and failure-bound tendencies resides, he or she cannot feel peace. In the same way, before such negativity, peanut-headed dunces become more boneheaded, just as cool water turns to ice in the proximity of a cold, bracing wind.

“Hope has become directed towards illusory objects, therefore great energy is lacking always. This kind of hope makes everything congested, as when flesh becomes overheated in the fire. For the shine of Self, this alone is the barrier. It disappears with the dawn of discretion in the company of wise men. Sharpen your weapon of discretion through the study of scriptures and the association of holy men and women. When your intellect is infinitely strong, cut off this tree of ignorance of the world appearance.

“When the desire clouds are dispersed by the winds of divine qualities and higher values of life, then the moon of Self Realization shines effulgently. It beautifies the entire world, blooming wide open the lilies and nightqueen flowers of cosmic intelligence, selfless service and miraculous feats.

“Even then, Oh Prince, only chandrakant gems (certain gems which melt in the rays of the full moon) will melt and not regular, ugly, cheap stones. It is the lilies which bloom and not other flowers in the night time, so also only the wise rejoice and not the dunces.

“Anyone can become wise by entering all or any of the above four doors of illumination. There is no nectar like shama. Because the soul has two hearts: one is in the body and the next is in shama; just as Lord Visnu has one heart in his form and the second in the heart of his devotees.

“Shama, or Dismissal of the world-appearance, enlivens one completely, just as a reunion with a sweetheart or regaining life. As an arrow cannot pierce a rock or a missile drive away a thunderbolt, one who has attained shama can never be made miserable by physical, mental, or spiritual sufferings. His nature becomes calm, cool, and collected. The shine of his face becomes soothing and beautiful.

“By attaining Santosha, Contentment, one enjoys as though they have attained the empire of the whole world. It is a state of relinquishing all desires. It is to not wish for the unattained, and to stay devoid of attachment and aversion from what is attained. It destroys all miseries and anxieties as the sun rise disperses night.

“Vichar, Contemplation, Introspection and Meditation, can be born when your intellect is refined and sharpened in the field of divinely ordained verdicts. You can become well versed in these only through a thorough study of the scriptures.

“The presence of vines of troubles and problems is an expression of the jungle of ignorance inside which you have to clean up through the machete of Vichar. No one else is your heart breaker but the elephant of maya, illusion. He breaks your heart into pieces just as he breaks a peanut or lotus stem. You have to produce the lion of Vichar to stop this repeated heart break, lamentation, and shedding of tears like a helpless poor girl.

“Just as a flame dispels the dark so you can see, Vichar makes you understand what is truly wrong and truly right. You need to be wise and understanding enough to transfer your faith from the regular social, national, and international conceptions of right and wrong. They are of no worth since they evolve from the original problem.

“The non-introspective tree of ego produces innumerable thorns. A non-discretional life is like a dark night where the ghost of hankering hovers around always, until the sunshine of Vichar illumines.

“Just like a child becomes scared of his own shadow misunderstanding it as ghost, everyone in the world is suffering due to a lack of Vichar.

“A rat digs a hole and piles up thick clay outside. In that mound weeds grow. Similarly, non-introspective habits collect piles of soil of self-offense and suppression enabling weeds of troubles to grow and spread.

“Vichar is an eye. When you have the vision of this eye, a quest arises to know where this world came from and how to have the superior light of wisdom. The life devoid of Vichar is like an ocean where the rivers of troubles and disaster keep entering fast, rushing and gushing.

“Dear Rama, it is better to become a worm of a ditch, a thorn in a pit, or a snake in a dark hole than to remain devoid of Vichar. With Vichar all is okay, but without it, even being an emperor of the whole world is like being a dog chasing a porcupine, skunk, or raccoon, whereupon suffering is imminent. Therefore begin your Vicharic life by searching out, `Who am I? What is this world? What is the meaning of life?’ At the culmination of your quest you will find the eternal rest.

“No meritorious deeds can accomplish what Satsang, Company of the holy ones, can do for you. It is a desire tree, the fruit of which is Self Realization.

“Satsang lights the flame of understanding, and just like an avalanche, completely crushes all insignificant problems and troubles. To drive away the cloud of delusion, Satsang is a mighty wind. It is a bridge across the muddy mire of world appearance. It is like the holy Ganga River cleaning all unwanted sins, blemishes and lower tendencies. It pacifies the heart just as rain assuages the summer-baked land. It is an ax to cut down the tree of delusion.

“Therefore, Rama, biting your teeth together fast, leaping like a lion, subdue your mind elephant by the goad of Vichar. In the jungle of the mind, the river of prenatal tendencies is flowing. It has two banks of right and wrong. Through the divinely ordained Vedic scriptures, know correctly what is wrong and what is right. Then, through the electric power of self-effort, move to the right. From the right move beyond the flow of all modifications of mind, first inward, then to the Atma, then to Bramha, the ultimate Enlightenment.

“The heart of an ignorant person is like a desert where the tree of detachment does not grow. Without making a lovely park of uninvolvement and dispassion how can illumination survive? It can’t. But there is a way to bring the constant rain of Vairagya (dispassion) which you have already verbalized wonderfully Rama, by reading, contemplating, conversing, and teaching, this is what we have been talking about. Then the trees of detachment from unwanted habits will grow.

“By applying the second Mumuksu Section (Quest for Moksa, which is Liberation or Enlightenment) which I have just spoken about, the desert will be cleansed of surrounding dust. Then all of the trees will shine lush and green. But we have covered this already.

“Now I will cover four more sections in the course of my discourse. The next will be Utpatti Section (Emanation of what’s seen). This will eliminate your deeply imbibed thrust of belief in this world appearance, which is actually a mere illusion. It is as much an illusion as a rope misconceived as a snake in a dimly lit room, or silver in a seashell, or water in the sun rays of a mirage, or a flower in space in the form of clouds, or blueness in the sky, or trees and mountains running past your car while driving down the Pacific Coast Highway.

“As the moon seems to be racing with the moving clouds, or a reflection is seen in a mirror or gem pillar, as one’s dream disappears upon awakening, so also this world just evaporates when you become Enlightened. Before this wisdom occurs in your heart, the world appearance just harasses you like a dreadful nightmare.

“Then there is Sthiti Section (Existence). This explains how the color of the rainbow is due to an incorrect vision of water reflecting in the sun rays, in the same way mind has fabricated this world and its happenings. As thoughts dissolve this too dissolves.

“Then there is the Upasam Section (Culmination and conclusion of all previous knowledge). It explains how the instinct and urges of a dream figure vanish after the dream is over. Similarly this world appearance with its notions of I, you, he, and she, all evaporate when cosmic-consciousness prevails.

“Then there is the Nirvana Section (Extinction of the flame of illusory identity) which expounds how the ego ghost evaporates through clear thinking. Then as a stone has no vibration, the egoless one has no moorings. As the sun cannot see the darkness, so the enlightened one cannot see the world and its problems and troubles. Then, just like in some corner of the Himalayas a lotus blooms and bumble bees hum, so this world too is hiding in some insignificant unknown corner, and soul is humming around.

“Then, Oh Prince, as by the advent of autumn clouds the bothersome rains of summer are disposed of, irritation evaporates, and the sky becomes clear, open and vast again, so becomes one’s heart where peace reigns.

“Just as the mind cannot shake the vines of a painting, so the miseries of the world cannot give such a person any stress or strain. He is stable like Mt. Everest, and cool like an autumn full moon. When you have attained such a state, then cause and effect, the seer and seen, a reflection and the spiralling of a movie all go by, and you experience the Creation and your own Self as non-different and non-separate. Then the ocean, water, waves, and bubbles are all just water, pure water. Just like Mt. Mandar was removed from the ocean and the ocean became clean and clear, so your heart becomes clean and clear then.”

“Prince Rama, thank you ever so much for your keen attention. Now please listen closely to the following story.

“There was once a lady messenger of death who became puffed up over her role of delivering the final ultimatum to the world’s struggling, suffering populations. One day she came across a great enlightened being seated in meditation in the picturesque beauty of the Himalayas. In her fit of vanity she thought to herself,

“I am immortal! It is my duty to put an end to all people, places, and things. Therefore, I must destroy this enlightened being!” And she rushed…

“But soon she found that all of her attacks went in vain, just like assaulting a rock with a sharp steel sword. Rather her power was damaged just as the blunted edge of the sword. Then she set fire all around him, and the devastating flames of fire surrounded him, but he still remained unaffected, just as even Hercules cannot yank a dream figure out of another man’s dream. She was amazed. She went to her boss, Mr. Death, and reported the matter. Then Death said,

“My dear Sweetheart, please remember, it is not you who kill people. No. Never. The fact is one who dies, dies by his or her own actions. You are eligible to kill only he or she who is a doer of action, and not those who have gone beyond. So go and look for action in that being’s life. And action is only that which is glued up with desire, intention, urge, hang-ups, passion, and attachment.”

“Ms. Messenger Death then looked for aeons and aeons but never found any actions in that enlightened one. Her boss Death appeared and said,

“Sweetheart, even if a man is almighty and the strongest, fastest being alive, and he owns the stoutest iron chain, still, tell me, how can he bind the sky? An enlightened man is just pure sky. Whatever body you think he is possessing is all your own imagination. And only you are responsible for the how, what, and why, and all the questions that arise in your mind in this regard, as well as all of their answers too. Because enlightenment is so subtle and abstract that even the sky is gross and thick like a mountain compared to it.

“The True Self held in the experience of Mystica Transcensia spreads into this vast creation beginning with Bramh?. Just like, the ocean alone rolls in the form of waves, and just as void and space, flower and perfume, water and coolness are non-different, similarly this vast world is non-different from one’s own True Self.”

These last words rang in the ears of the assembled audience of King Dasaratha’s capital like the gong of a bell at a Zen-Buddhist temple.

Dusk was approaching fast. In the deep silence of that moment, Sage Visvamitra, who was seated on the stage beside Sage Vasistha, blessed the crowd and made the parting comments for the day.

Now the assembly was dissolved. Everyone went to their homes to change, and assembled on the banks of Sarayu River to perform their daily ablutions. In the evening they meditated deeply over the esoteric words of the Sage which were as though resounding in their hearts and minds again and again and again. Enjoying the starlit night they rested. The next morning they returned.

“Holy Sire, tell me, what is the structure of mind as well as its nature?” Prince Rama began again.

“If I say that the son of a barren woman broke Mt. Everest into pieces, or Bugs Bunny’s horn is beautiful, or this oil has been carefully squeezed from Waikiki Beach sand, or this stone slab is dancing, or this bolder from Eldorado State Park is rumbling like a cloud, or this little child’s dolls are singing, how will it sound? Your statement also feels like this.” Sage Vasistha said.

“But how shall I come to know that this is right? Could you show me?” Sri Rama asked.

“Prince, know it well. This sky, these mountain, the vast oceans and earth, the cities and towns and people haven’t happened. In the home, when the sun rays flow through a tiny hole, in its stream of light innumerable dust particles keep floating. Among these subtle dust pieces are more subtle atoms, and among them, there are even more subtle particles. In those there are even more subtle aspects. From one of these subtle parts, when it vibrates, this world emerges. But while it is emerging too, it hasn’t been born, even appearing it hasn’t appeared in the dimension of Reality.

“Just like, when you fall asleep in your bedroom in Kansas City and see a dream, then, even though the dream emerged from your mind and is happening to you as a reality, still it does not exist geographically and historically. In the United States of America it never happened, yet has happened to you, and in you, along with the rest of the five billion people on planet earth. And when it happens it is of immediate concern to everyone it is happening to. Reality is left behind. Whether Reality exists or doesn’t, makes no difference. The dream occurrence is such a solid hurtful or joyful mind-entertaining perception that Reality is almost lost. But this entertainment proves to very injurious to real life. Just like, if Donald Trump, President Clinton, or Susie-home-maker dreams through their important appointments and summits, it could cost people’s lives, billions of dollars, or cause a fire on the stove and burn the house down. This is exactly how the world appearance is to a Seeker of Truth.

“Divine Sir, explain it to me through an anecdote please.” Sri Rama asked.

“All right Prince, please listen…”

“Prince, Once upon a time King Padma governed most of the world. His wife Lila was exceedingly beautiful, intelligent, and humane. She loved her husband even more than her own life. Both traveled, played, and visited wonderful places of the world. They were unable to live without each other. Together they were as happy as couples on their honeymoon. Time rolled on. One day Lila noticed that some of her husband’s hairs had became gray. She became afraid of old age, death, and separation. For 300 days she worshipped Goddess Sarasvati (also known as the White Lady or Goddess Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom). She appeared in her luminous divine form and blessed her, that even if Padma dies, his soul would remain inside the palace. Then she disappeared as a wave disappears into the ocean.

“Lila was very glad and moved joyously everywhere. Twenty years later, in the battle field, while fighting with his enemy, Padma died, killing the enemy too. His body was brought and placed in Lila’s apartment.

“Queen Lila began crying loudly like a she-osprey. She became sad like a lily out of water. She fell faint. Then the White Lady appeared to her in a dream. She instructed her,

“Worry not dear Queen, King Padma will meet you again. Just cover his body with fresh flowers. His soul is just here.” She said pointing around the room.

“Lila woke up and felt peace a little, like a waterless, torturing fish with a shower. Then, as being wealthy but being a miser, still not able to enjoy the wealth she remained sad. She covered the dead body of her husband with flowers and remained awake all night crying. At midnight she saw the White Lady again. And she asked,

“Mother, where is my husband? Please let me meet him. I can’t live without him.”

“Dear Lila, Please wake up into a new understanding. This world is an illusion. Like a river in a mirage, nothing like death has occurred in his true Self. Why do you lament?”

“Then where is he? What form is he in?” Lila asked.

“Look Lila, this is the elemental sky, then there is a mental sky, and in the depth there is a love sky. The first is dependent on the second, and the second on the third. Your husband has left the elemental sky and has gone to the mental sky. But that is dependent on the love sky, therefore if you land on the love sky you will see all the universes and galaxies which reflect upon that. Then you can spot that universe in which your husband now lives.”

“Mother, tell me how I can go there…”

“Lila, from outerspace the soul travels to another plane of existence which is the mental sky. From there, when the soul travels in time and beyond, then, in between the finest state of time and timelessness there is the love sky. So when you drop all desires, whatever is left is the love sky. You just have to transcend the existing phenomenal world and go on one by one transcending until you find the one you want.” Instructing thus the White Lady disappeared again.

“Lila sat cross-legged, spine straight, and closed her eyes. Then she went into deep meditation. Like a bird with a mind she penetrated into the depths of Mystica Transcensia and reached the love sky. Looking left and right, there were innumerable universes. Then she spotted the one in which her husband was living and the state. He looked just 16 years old, and was seated on a Royal throne, illumining the assembly. She also saw many of the ministers from her capital there. She wondered if all of them had died too, or perhaps the entire city itself had died and been transported here. Thinking thus she flew back into her body. “Arranging her sari she quickly went to her chief administrator and requested him to immediately call an assemblage in the royal assembly. He sent the message far and wide through the palace and surrounding city. It was well past midnight, but all of them rushed to the royal assembly, including the chiefs of staff, ministers, executive liaisons, ambassadors, governors, and more. They arranged themselves quickly in their seats, and awaited the Queen’s arrival.

“Seeing the Queen arrive soon thereafter, the assembly stood up in her honor, as Queen Lila took her seat on her husband’s throne. There she saw the same ministers, the same governors, ambassadors, and trustees. She spoke with them, and saw that they were healthy and fine. Then she dismissed the assembly and returned to her royal apartments.

“Lila sat again by the body of her husband. She arranged herself and entered into deep meditation once more. In her meditation the White Lady appeared again, in a wonderful 16 year old form, and Lila said,

“Oh Goddess, tell me, which is real and which is artificial?”

“Lila,” the White Lady said, “Tell me first which you consider to be real and which artificial?”

“Mother, I consider this real and where I saw my husband as a dream, or some simulated vision.”

“Dear Queen, that’s not right. As there is an effect, so is there a cause. If the cause is real, the effect is also real.”

“But Mother, from real also the unreal can be born. The effect can be different from the cause.”

“Yes, that is when a third element is involved. The universe of your husband is causeless and so is this universe where you are.”

“How come Mother? Why can’t memory be the cause of that universe?”

“Because memory is abstract and rooted on illusion-bubble, which is projected upon the screen and visualized by the formations of color, light, and sound. Therefore memory is only a perverted and converted form of sky. In its essence memory is nothing but will. Everything of life, whether few or innumerable, all are based on the first will.”

“Oh Divine Mother, if something isn’t real, how can it come in one’s memory, and how was my husband first formed? By which will? And how could that will be unreal? And also, whose will was I? What was my first will?”

“Music was echoing, the breeze blew the king’s fragrance and flowers showered. Vasistha watched this silently. He was impressed and a thought arose to become a king like him. This thought became a desire. It was not controlled, not retreated, not counteracted by thoughts of wisdom, and so it became will. He would think again and again, `Oh, when shall I become a King?’

“He lived for many years but that memory-born will lingered on. He became old and one day he died. Arundhati lamented and she meditated and asked for a boon that when her husband dies, his soul should not go out of their cottage. They lived joyfully there for hundreds of years, then one day the bramhin died.

“His wife began to cry. She became lean and thin, like a rivulet in the summer season. Unable to bear the shock and sadness she also died. She was then united with her husband in another world, as a river with the ocean, because she had been blessed that her husband’s soul would not go out of their small little hillside home.

“Their sons were now grown up and lived in great agony of the separation of their parents. That same bramhin Vasistha, due to his strong will of allurement for kingship, became King Padma, and his wife, Arundhati, is you, oh Queen Lila. That bramhin has died just eight days ago, even all of the death rituals have not been completed yet. Still you both have lived long and had a successful reign in your State for more than 60,000 years.

“This is fact. It is true. That’s why, oh Queen, I said to you, whatever, however the world appears to you, it is a myth, a mirage, just vibrations. As you see in the television a display of color, sound, and light, transmitted through the air, the same way, all of this only appears the way it does because you have willed so.” And the White Lady became silent.

“Lila was amazed. Perplexed as she was, she became speechless and just stared at the beautiful, wisdom-filled face of the White Lady. At last she said,

“Dear Goddess, your words are filled with great wisdom, but to me it sounds like saying a mad elephant is held captive inside a mustard seed. Or one mosquito is fighting fiercely with ten lions. Or that Mount Himalayas is balancing on the pericarp of a lotus. The same way your words sound to me quite impossible. How can this huge palace, our enormous capital and State, which we have so laboriously expanded, nurtured, and protected, along with this world, its people, animals, and vegetation, all be inside that small hillside home that you have told me about?”

“Lila, just like to a dreaming person the entire world is seen inside his mind, and when he awakens, just as in life after death, an altogether new world arises. The new world of waking is visualized according to his level of consciousness and his state of mind. To some it is a struggle, a path full of thorns, and a tormenting night, but to others it is bliss, so colorful, and full of mirth and adventure at every step. During sleep the world was inhabited in the dream space, (svapn?k?sha), now it is inhabited in the mind space, (chitt?k?sha). Like sound and light formations, it goes on assuming various forms. Each time you sleep you die, each time you awaken you die again, and while dreaming and waking you die hundreds and thousands of times. Death is nothing but being disconnected from one series of thought and action. Birth only means starting a new pattern. Go beyond both and awaken, be born in the love sky, (chid?k?sha). Just as in the mirror you see your reflection, similarly in the mind this world is. And mind is just a pure, vast sky.

“Just like a dream, a nightmare, a fairy tale, or a hallucination, so is this world. Neither has anything ever been born, nor will it ever be born. Therefore, drop this will. Rise above this imagination. Be established in the pure love sky.”

Goddess Minerva Teaches Lila Meditation

“Dear Goddess,” Lila resumed, “Since the death of bramhin Vasistha you say that only eight days have passed, yet here 60,000 years have passed. How can this be? In such a short span of time, how can such a long time elapse?” Lila asked perplexed.

“As a hallucinating persons feels enthusiasm and lamentation together, as a lunatic in a fit of lunacy sees things which do not exist, as sharpness bothers and burns for a while when you eat black pepper, as a lifetime of events can be seen while dreaming within an hour, as the events spanning a thousand years can be seen on the Discovery channel in ninety minutes, the same way, 60,000 years can be experienced in as short as eight days.” Replied the White Lady.

“Okay, Dear Goddess, please tell me, if this life is just a vibration of the hillside bramhin’s desire, then whose vibration is that life?” Lila asked.

“Dear Lila, it is the vibration of your past, past life. And those too were the vibrations of your past, past, past life. If you wish to see them, I can show them to you.” The White Lady said.

“Goddess, please do show me.” Lila said.

“For that Lila, you must to sit in meditation and master your establishment in Mystica Transcensia.” Goddess Minerva said.

“But why, you are a Goddess aren’t you?” Lila said.

“Because those universes are inherent in the will of someone else. We have to penetrate his will. In order to do that you have to be extremely subtle and refined. Just as one cannot know another’s dream, this is the same. You have to be very subtle. Only the formless can perceive the formless. As a bird levitates from the rooftops and flies in the sky wherever she wants, the same way, you have to go deep in Mystica Transcensia.”

“Mother, how shall I do this? Will you please teach me the way?”

“Yes, I’ll tell you. You can have glimpses of Mystica Transcensia just by closing your eyes and applying any of the One Hundred Techniques of World Peace. But in order to refine and mature this experience and make it permanent, please practice the following virtues with adoration: non-hurtfulness, non-falsehood, freedom from being sensationally unconscious, non-allurement, and non-possessiveness. Then your body will relax and become flexible. Then inner and outer cleanliness and purity, contentment, inner balance against the pairs of opposites like heat and cold, hunger and thirst, respect and insult, etc., study of the scriptures and abiding by the Divine Will, will become deeply established and firmly rooted in your life.

“When this is done, remaining for as long as you can in pyramidical posture, regulating the breath, maintain the point in between senses and objects. Then ascend and descend in deeper layers of consciousness from one tenth of the conscious mind to the subconscious and unconscious, all the way to the fullness in Mystica Transcensia. There the object and subject are transcended like a void outside, but the subtle vibration of the object of your meditation keeps on shimmering inside; learn to withstand that.

“After mastering this state for 45 consecutive minutes, combine the former two stages with the third stage of Mystica Transcensia. Then you will get a Mystic Torch.

“Lila, wherever and whenever you focus this torch of Self-brilliance, it illuminates the object of concentration. If you focus it upon traveling through the sky, your body will levitate. Then it will move forward and capture speed. Then you can swim or flow with the speed of the wind, light, sound, or even with the speed of mind. Then you will be able to see your goal. This can be done when you are detached from this gross body. Through detachment, multi-conditionings of physical materialism vanish away. Just like at 32 degrees water freezes into ice, the same way, by dropping physical materialism, one’s will-power assumes super-human proportions, transforming into angelic strength and divine energy. And this strength is already in you, only it has been left idle. Now please train yourself in this method.” Said Goddess Minerva.

“Why haven’t I attained it yet?”

“Because you have been in the tumult and throws of being hurled around by five-dimensional misunderstanding. You have never taken the mighty step to remove this illusion. In order to evaporate the grossness of phenomenal appearance, detachment is the way. The purpose of detachment is to attain the futility-consciousness of outer visible phenomena which is the barrier to the subtle and blissful.

“Through detachment, passion for the unreal and temporary vanishes, then, as recognition of a rope as a rope dispels the fear born of wrongly seeing it as a cobra, your illusion that created misery and problems is also finished. Then your True Self shines in its effulgent glory.

“Queen, this visible world which is appearing to you is like a dream scape. When you become enlightened your physical and mental identity feels like vanishing parts of some unwanted dream. As much as you value your service to your husband, in comparison to entertaining one of your last night’s dreams, into the same extent after enlightenment you value this world around you.

“Goddess Minerva, why can’t I go from this physical body? I love this body so much. Without it, how shall I be able to see?” Lila said.

“Dear Queen, just like, in order to repair the tiny mechanisms of a wrist watch the bare hand cannot be used, finest needles are used and to see them, and a powerful magnifying glass is needed, just like to change the channel on a remote control television no amount of pushing the buttons will work, just a slight pressing of the remote control is needed, the same way, to explore the world of the subtle astral beings, not this gross body but the astral body is needed. In that body your sense perceptions are more potent.

“This world is appearing to you due to prolonged and intense practice of thinking about it. When you will practice to think intensely, straight to the Self, you will surely have it. Dear Lila, without practice nothing can be attained at all.” Said the Goddess.

“Mother, please tell me how to practice?” Lila asked.

“Those who are contemplative and reflective, who have tinified their passion and reduced physical clinging, whose intellect is cleansed through the shine of detachment, and whose mental transformations constantly flow unrestrictedly towards spiritual topics, are known as bramh?bhy?s?s.

“To whom the world is real, yet intellectually who knows it is an illusion, and he or she wants and tries to rise above it, is a third class seeker.

“To whom the world is flowing as a liquid reality, who is most of the time lost in the oblivion of the bliss of the Truth, but half of the time is working hard, is a second class seeker.

“Who is always uplifted and risen above, to whom the world looks like a washed off, portrayal by rain, a vanishing dream of dawn, is a first-class, first preference knower.”

“Hearing these enlightening words of Goddess Minerva, oh Prince Rama,” Sage Vasistha in the Royal Assembly of King Dasaratha in Ayodhya, “the ignorance of Queen Lila almost dispersed, just as a fog from around the moon in the autumn full-moon night.

“And then both of them looked around. In the distance were the sleeping apartments of the royal family, workers, and guests. In the front the body of the king was lying, covered with flowers. And there they both sat, cross-legged, spine straight, eyes closed. They entered into deep meditation. Due to prolonged stillness they appeared like two beautifully carved sculptures in a pillar of gems.

“A ghee flame was burning, and incense smoke was circling in the space. As much as they probed more deeply, their bodies began to shine brightly, illumining the surroundings. Just like trees of the forest leave symptoms of one season and assume another as the new season arrives, the same way, dropping this visible world they resumed the imposition of a new astral world. In the silence of that midnight they were still and quiet.”

Hearing thus, the assembly members of Ayodhya saw dusk stealing in, and it seemed that the quiet of Vasisthaji’s story, and the stillness of deep meditation, was spreading out across the world with the issuance of night. The discourses ended for the day and everyone silently departed for the performance of their evening ablutions.

Lila’s Astral Flight

The next day, as soon as the sun rose, thousands came from far and wide to sit in the royal assembly or under the royal tarps and canopies, or in the royal auditorium to watch by satellite on a large television screen, Sage Vasistha’s enlightening discourse. Sri Rama worshipped the two sages and then took his seat along with King Dasaratha, his brothers, and the Queens. Then Sage Vasistha’s voice echoed again…

“They saw parks, lakes, beaches, forts, castles, mansions, resorts, lands full of gems and jewels, multicolored, rainbow-shining lands, peacock flocks dancing, celestials flying in their golden, beaming airplanes. Somewhere lightening was darting, somewhere it was raining, somewhere it was cool, mild and fragrant, other places were sunny. Nymphs were dancing here and there, people, evil and good, were waging war against each other… They rose higher and higher and higher, and saw innumerable cosmic eggs, populated with innumerable souls assuming innumerable forms all over like mosquitos, and filled with their own innumerable galaxies. One country unlike another, those inhabitants programmed their brains in certain kinds of beliefs and were reluctant to change unless forced by the pressure of nature or through major disasters. When confronted by new thoughts they would create much noise all over on the radios, televisions, and assemble in public meetings. When they assimilated and absorbed them into their system, they stopped calling them alien or profane and later felt proud of them.

“Minerva spread her sight unto all those billions of universes and chose one and looked at Lila. Then both, like a stream of light, flew. They entered that Cosmic Egg. There they saw, surrounded by the elemental coverings, that brilliant Cosmic Egg. Inside they saw six celestial and six subterranean regions, and two regions in between the earth and sky. They entered the earth. It was surrounded by seven oceans making seven rings of vast land each, half the size of the former. The smallest was eight lakh miles in a circle, surrounded by a salt water ocean. It was divided in nine continents and in the center there stood Mt. Meru. They flew to the south looking at the picturesque beauty of the Nisadha, Hemakut, and Himalayan Mountain ranges, and their countrysides of Harivarsa and Kimpurusa. There they entered the holy land of Bharat that again was divided into nine subcontinents, each one larger than eight thousand miles.

“When they entered Bharata, Lila felt a great affinity and at-homeness. She breathed deeply and looked around. Goddess Minerva indicated one direction toward the Northeast, and there, on the slope of one of the Himalayan peaks, was a shining abode of a wise man, and down below a town filled with families of merchants. It seemed as though the town was lusterless. As if it was mourning over the loss of some great protector. Many people were still lamenting, crying, sobbing and sighing. They had lost their most beloved teachers who used to guide, instruct, and bless them. Their names were Vasistha and Arundhati. This couple were so gentle, loving, caring, and full of wisdom that all people loved them. Whenever problems arose they rushed to their proximity and got them solved in a finger snap, playfully. Then the citizens would let them go only when they smiled and tasted sweets made especially for them.

“Their home was still there on the hill, above the valley, shining, white-washed, nestled in the forest. But signs of lamentation marked the dwellers. Their elder son, Jyesthasharma, was sitting outside on the yard under the cluster of trees remembering how colorful the days were just a week before when his parents were still alive and all of them were laughing, singing, and merry making. Now they were gone forever. He was sad and tears dripped drop by drop.

“Queen Lila willed for all of the people to be able to see her, and then, as if two shining moons were descending before the dawn, the two goddesses appeared in the yard. Jyesthasharma felt that the goddesses of the forest had come to visit him. He offered handfuls of flowers at their feet and bowed in reverence. Then all of the family members came running, along with the neighbors. Their sad faces were looking in amazement at Lila. And then Lila asked them,

“Why are you and these villagers so despondent young man, especially in this heavenly town?”

“Great goddess, our parents have just left the earth. In their separation, oh reverend goddess, we are so sad and grief stricken. The trees, birds, river, hills and the entire town seem to be crying without their benign presence.”

“Compassion overflowed in the heart of Lila and she placed her palm on his head and lo, all of their agony disappeared and great peace arose in their hearts.”

“Holy Sire,” Sri Rama asked, “How come Lila did not appear before her sons as their mother?”

“Because Queen Lila’s illusion is at the point of disappearance. Her I-my-me tightenings were considerably loosened. Therefore she appeared to them as a goddess.

“After a short conversation, they disappeared. The town felt blessed and became free from the agony of its tormentation.

“Dear Goddess, please tell me why, when I went to my husband in his new life he did not see me, and why my sons of my past life saw me?”

“Because then your illusion of duality had not yet vanished. So just as you cannot enjoy the coolness of shade in the scorching summer sun, so also while under the duality-illusion you cannot enjoy the bliss of non-dual existence. Just like, a rainy season came but no rain fell, that’s how you were. You had crossed the worldliness through the love of your husband, but had not risen in your pristine glory of Self Realization. But now you have attained. If you go there now and will that he should see you, he will.”

“Oh, this is that canopy! In its sky I and my husband Vasistha lived. We died then we were born again in different cities under the same canopy. Through the spell of ancient love we united again as King Padma and Queen Lila. We ruled the entire earth. Then he died. And in here again he has been born as King Viduratha. Oh Goddess, I see, yes, I am seeing innumerable comic eggs in the space of this canopy. And also so many births of mine, so many families of mind. I am seeing them all. All are here…”

“Oh Lila, tell me, now where do you wish to go? I will take you there as air takes perfume. All of these cosmic eggs are so close, as you feel, due to your being established in Bramhic Space. But in reference to the creation they are billions of miles away, and trillions of miles apart from one another.

“In the sky of Bramha innumerable creations float like splashes of water along the waterfall. The ocean and mountains like the Pacific Ocean and Rocky Mountains exist in billions. And in each of their atoms too, billions of such universes are flowing. And according to one’s taste and temperament, various varieties of worlds appear in them. But all are vast mental projections upon the screen of pure Bramhic sky. There, neither is anyone born nor is anyone going to be born. Nothing takes birth, nor ever dies there. All these happen like illusions to the ignorant mind.”

“Oh yes, Oh great Goddess, I remember, I do see clearly how I was born in the beginning of creation, as I became the wife of a Vidyadhara, then I performed unrighteous actions for which I fell from the heavens onto the earth and became a bird. I was enjoying in the forests when I was caught by a hunter and died. Then I was born as an aborigine too and strolled forest to forest. Then I became a flowering vine cluster near a hermitage. A sage used to touch me with affection. I became his daughter in my next life. I did punyas. The next life I became a prince, and then a king. I became wicked and did many sins. For that in my next life I became a monkey for eight years, died, and then became a bull. Then I became a bumble bee and used to sit on lotuses those days. Then I became a deer, then a king again for one hundred years. But then I did bad things and became a tortoise, then a swan.

“Oh White Lady, Oh Goddess Minerva, like a wild merry-go-round I have been transmigrating round and round on the wheel of birth, life, and death. I never got peace until now, by your gracious favor, oh dear Goddess….”

Back in the assembly hall of King Dasaratha, Rama asked,

“Holy Sire, this world and solar system seems like a steel-hard rock expanded in billions of miles. How did they cross it?”

“Where is that which you call the steel-hard world existence? No, never it is, has been, or will be. In that same valley-slope town where Vasistha’s home was made, right in the sky of that canopy, his mind is experiencing these worlds and life and creation. In all the three lives, never has anyone gone anywhere, nor is anyone ever going to. Just their mind construed all these universes and empires and palaces.”

“But why?”

“Due to passion. It is passionate clinging to one’s desire, will, ambition, lingering expectations, hopes and dreams that have created this magical feat. In fact, all ignorant people are great magicians who have created these glamorous Las Vegas and Atlantic City worlds out of nothing. Just out of imagination. When you drive your car or plane you in fact don’t go anywhere, but your programmed mind thinks so intensively, that you are arriving to a preconceived place and so– lo– it appears out of the blue. It is the same with the personal, place, things, and so many situations of the world.

“After death Vasistha hallucinated himself as King Padma and started seeing all four oceans, vast continents, rivers, mountains and himself as lord of it all. To entertain himself he got Queen Lila out of the blue. Then he died again and rose as Viduratha enjoying again, but all these took place inside the same canopy, not even an inch out of it. And this entirety is inhabited just in the mind of Vasistha. Why Vasistha? Because in Vasistha’s life that soul has made remarkable progress which is worth recording. Why recording? Because it can prove to be a door to enlighten millions of others. That’s all.

“So this entire creation is just in the mind. But Vasistha, heavily involved and entangled in his own man-made spider webs, is lost. And all there is– is mind transformations– projections. Then somehow, by the favor of wisdom which appears in various forms, one of which is Goddess Lila, flew inside her own sky of body and then crossing beyond innumerable cosmic eggs came back to the same old place, just as from one dream you enter to another dream. But where did she go, where did she come? It would be wiser to say, just saw. Stationed in one place, formerly glancing at one creation, she was now glancing at another aspect of that same creation.

“While watching a dream everything is too serious, too risky, too delicate. But after all it is only a combination of reflections. The same way you see this world, but it’s only a reflection, a cluster of reminiscences. In Life Magazine, April 1992 Issue, the cover page has a photograph of our Planet Earth which says, “Startling new pictures show our planet as we’ve never seen it before.”

“And we’re supposedly living in a Nuclear Age, in the height of scientific development wherein we claim to be all-knowing. And we’ve never seen our earth totally. Some picture from some angle is still new to us. What’s this?

“Atm? is the self-same, silent, oceanic-expansion, an eternity. It is still and then it becomes moved and rises into waves. While rising high, when we see from our airplane, it still looks silent and still. Who knows atm?, to them the world seems more like a void than the sky, more still than the ocean. To those who fail to know it, all this is like a rock, steel, and magnesium. Hard as a thunderbolt. As in a dream a city reflects, as in a desert water shimmers in a mirage, and as a golden ornament is only a fashioned hunk of gold, the same way, this world appears in atm?…” Vasistha told Rama.

“Oh dear Minerva, oh, I recall verily, I do recall– this is the place.” While flying over one particular spot Lila spoke to Sarasvati.

“I am able to see that one birth I had taken here wherein I was the wife of a bramhin. I was too old. My nerves and wrinkles were showing, and teeth disappearing. I had a husband and many sons and daughters who lived with us, along with their wives and husbands too, and many more grandchildren. I used to keep milk here, grain there, do worship there… Sitting on a sofa seat in the living room I used to command people all day long. Early morning I would wake up, walk outside, breathe in the fresh air, and as soon as the sun rose, I would run down to the servant quarters at the garden gate and shout loudly to the servant demanding that he wake up and do something, saying `Don’t be so lazy! Laziness is not good for health, Work, work, oh sleepy heads, wake up, arise you bunch of peanut! Come, work hard!’

“Here I used to cook, here my husband used to place the vegetables from the garden. Here the servants used to store cow dung to clean the floor and remove the bacteria. Those are the trees I planted from which I plucked so many fruits in that life. My husband was a great scholar, a genius, but too talkative and a big lecturer, devoid of the wisdom of the Absolute Truth. Neither had he developed any search for it. Just a good man, a moral, popular gentleman.”

“Speaking thus Lila kept looking at that spot for a long time. Then she looked at Sarasvati and they flew far away in the sky. Far beyond the sun and moon and stars too. Billions of miles above in the sky. Dark, dark, too dark, intense darkness prevailed. They were looking for a new Cosmic Egg. At last they found it. They penetrated through the layers of elements. It was expanded in billions of miles, and divided in innumerable celestial, astral, and physical planets. Everywhere enormous pleasure and festivities were going on. At the same time, in other places, terrible misery, suffering, and problems were going on. They both are constant realities, quite endless. However solid, real and impressive it was, it was just an appearance, exactly as a tree projected upon the sky.

“Just like, in the pit of a garbage can hundreds of ants are crawling and to them up and below, sky and earth are appearing. What is the value of their measurement of infinity of space and time? They are simply vegetating. What’s the value of their great knowledge and expertise in eating the sticky piece of left over cake on one of the plates of a monstrous family?

“As herds of elephant stroll along the Himalayan hills, the same is the world reflecting on the screen of Bramha- the essentiality of each one of us.

“Crossing innumerable wonders and surprises they came to the world of King Viduratha. There they saw a great war being fought. Two vast oceans of armies were striking upon each other. Rivers of blood were flowing. Sounds of pain and torture were resounding. Great devastation was going on. At the end of the day the fight stopped and the King returned to his palace. In the middle of the night, when the King slept in his magnificent Whitehouse bed room, like air enters a closing lotus flower at dusk, both ladies entered his bedroom.

“Just like water, due to coldness, turns into ice, the same way, due to the soul’s careless attitude, due to his laziness, this world appears to a being, all in the mind. All in a moment these projections of billions of years are going on. All in the mind this whole scene of the billion mile world is occurring. All in the midst of one single breath…

“Soothing light opened the eyes of the King and abruptly he got out of his bed. He picked up flowers in both of his hands and offered them at the two ladies’ feet. He set them on the nearby velvet couch and sat in front of them on the ground in lotus posture. By the will of the White Lady the minister sleeping in the next room awoke and came too. He too, amazed, offered flowers, bowed, and sat behind the King.

“Who are you oh King? Whose son are you, when were you born?” Asked the White Lady.

“Your Holiness, you know all this already, but since you ask, I shall gladly respond. I was born in the dynasty of King Iksvaku, in the line of Kundaratha, and here is the son of Nabhoratha, our King Viduratha. His mother is Sumitra. When he was ten years old King Nabhoratha coronated him on the throne and went to the forest to meditate. Since then he has been governing the State with utmost care and concern.”

“Minerva smiled and placed her palm on the King’s head and said,

“Let you be able to see oh King, what you were in your past life.”

And the King immediately saw everything in a split second and said,

“Oh Goddess, I know, I know now, I was King Padma and Lila was my dear wife. Oh, I never knew all these 100 years. I am so surprised!”

“When a person dies, s/he sinks in the oblivion of coma. And in that split fraction of time, s/he feels the length of millions of years. As in a dream, in an hour one can see hundreds of years, so also in the coma of your death of past life you are seeing this world and hundreds of years go by. But here only 24 minutes have elapsed. Before that life Padma was Vasistha in that hillside villa. He got trapped in desiring, that’s why he is going through all these joys and sufferings. But all the while these are just in your mind, taking place just in the space of that canopy. In fact, neither has anyone been born, nor has anyone died. You are atm?. Only out of illusion are all of these appearing. The rays of gems are not different from the gems.”

After elucidating this topic through a number of questions and answers, Sage Vasistha became quiet, and King Dasaratha dissolved the royal assembly for the day.

After enlightening the King with words of wisdom, the White Lady told the King,

“Dear King, at the end of this war you will die. After your death here you will enter the body of King Padma. And there, with Lila, you will govern the earth for a long time.”

“Just then a messenger entered the hall and informed the King that the enemy had entered the city, was trying to take over the palace, and that the Queen had been brought there safely. Viduratha requested the Goddess to take care of his wife.

“Seeing her Lila was surprised… She said,

“Oh, how come she looks exactly like me, dear Goddess?”

“Because the King loved you so much. After death when the mind vibrates, at times it’s similar to what was before, is totally new, or mixed. Because of the King’s love for you he got a wife who is exactly like you. In fact, you, King, she, and the entire world, are nothing but Bramha. Bramha reflects as the world.”

“Oh Divine Mother, I worshipped you for many years. As my statue is, exactly your form too is. Please bless me that I should never be separated from my husband, even after death.”

“Yes, you’ve worshipped me for so long, I bless you, you will remain united.” She gave the second Queen Lila her boon. As much as mind sinks in the depths of samvit (pure consciousness) combined with the eruption of powerful will, forceful Bramhic power emanates, assuming the form of your chosen God to offer the benediction expected. Without relation with samvit, no one ever can offer anything to anybody.

“While this conversation was going on, outside the City a horrifying battle was in progress. Showers of weapons, bullets, and rivers of blood were flowing. The White Lady and Lila came out in the sky and watched.

“Oh Goddess, who is going to win?”

“King Siddha, the enemy of your husband has worshipped me for victory, so he will win. But your husband worshipped me for liberation, that’s what he is going to get.”

“A fierce fight went on for the rest of the night. Toward dawn King Viduratha’s heart was pierced by a spear and blood flew like a fountain. He trembled and fell on his chariot. Then Siddha hit him with his sword and his foot was cut off. Still King Viduratha kept fighting. Then Siddha hit him over the head with his club and the King fainted. The charioteer raced towards the palace. Siddha chased closely behind, but couldn’t enter due to the power of the White Lady, just as a mosquito can’t enter the flame of a fire.

“Looking at the serious condition of her husband, the second Lila became almost half-dead.

“All this is illusion, Oh Lila. This entire play is going on in the sky of the canopy of Vasistha, the bramhin of the Himalayan hillside. Just as covering after covering exists in the banana trunk, or onion peel, the same way, nothing is there in this world. Nothing at all. King Padma’s world is inside that canopy. In Padma’s mind this entire world of King Viduratha is manifest. Right in his anahat chakra, at the dorsal plexus. As soon as his body died, his mind fluctuated in a new birth, with new parents and a new family. As you reflected in the mind of Padma, she reflected in the mind of Viduratha. Bramha is all conscious. As fast and tough as you infuse it, it goes on being materialized. The new Lila prayed to me that she should not become a widow and therefore, as soon as she fainted, she reached to Padma.”

“Oh holy Sire, this is so interesting. Could you please tell me how she reached King Padma’s palace?” Asked Prince Rama.

“As soon as she fainted, like a baby bird stretching her wings from a broken egg, the second Lila’s subtle body rose and moved in the space with the speed of light. Then she saw a virgin who introduced herself as her guide, appointed by the White Lady, to take her to her husband. Then both flew in the sky with the speed of light.

“They travelled days, weeks, and years. Solar systems, universes, and galaxies were passed. They came to the top-high place where billions of cosmic eggs were floating in the space. The messenger of the White Lady chose one for her, and they entered that. There they saw the seven celestial planets, Bramha loka, Tapoloka, Janaloka, Maharloka, Svargaloka, at last our galaxy, then our universe, then our solar system and our earth. There they found out the continent, country, state, and city, in the center of which King Padma’s palace was situated along the banks of a river. There, leaving her at Padma’s flower-covered, dead body, the guide disappeared. The second Lila felt that any time her husband was going to wake up, and so she took a hand fan and began waving it slowly with desperateness to meet her husband.

“Viduratha was presented before Death, who said,

“Sir, he hasn’t done any sinful action, rather he has performed great meritorious deeds. On top of that he has earned the favor of the Goddess Minerva. He is tied up with the benedictions of the Goddess. We cannot touch a single hair of his head.” Thus he was freed.

“Then, pulled by the invisible string of will and past karma, he flew faster than light to reach his body of Padma, lying in a heap of ornately arranged flowers, in the palace. There they saw the second Lila sitting beside his body, still fanning him, and looking as beautiful as before. She did not see them, but they saw her.”

“Divine Sir,” Sri Rama said, “you didn’t describe the former Lila’s body which was sitting there in meditation right beside the body of King Padma. Lila and Goddess Minerva only went flying in their astral bodies. What happened to her?” Rama asked inquisitively.

Vasisthaji smiled. Then he said,

“Just like, in the hot sun shine the frozen ice melts away, the same way, as soon as Lila attained the wisdom of Bramha she became luminous and her body evaporated like camphor in fire. And where was it after all? Except in its existence as an illusory idea in the mind of Arundhati in the canopy of sky?”

“Divine Sir, those who travel to the astral and celestial planes of existence and are enlightened, how come their bodies do not melt away?” Rama asked.

“Rama, celestial and astral bodies are like living in two realities. Double-talented. This is a fruit of some special austerity. Just like, the autumn clouds are only visual, they have no potency to shower rain. The same way, celestials and celestial yogis’ bodies are just an appearance. Their bodies don’t have any power to cause trouble as regular bodies possess. Such as immense conditionings of heat, cold, hunger, thirst, bathroom necessities, sleep, etc. Those bodies are very close to freedom, so they are almost unmanifest.”

“Divine Sir, do bodies become material from celestial, or celestial from material?”

“Oh Rama, too many times I told you, why don’t you get it set in your heart. All souls are celestial, once they are split from the transcendence then wishes, passions, and longings, pile and heap up, making it material. Just as water becomes ice. Due to lethargy brought about by practices of lower tendencies, the soul goes on grossifying. Its grossification is characterized by three symptoms:

(a) Body becomes heavy and feels more of the gravitational pull;

(b) It becomes hard relative to its previous state, and loose in its higher aspiration, seeking more rest.

(c) I, my, me notions become more sharp and touchy. Thus one starts down the long road of being complicated in terms of true sensitivity of higher consciousness.

“In an unenlightened state, soul relinquishes one body and accepts another, and thus moves from one dream to another. And this process goes on and on until the soul attains enlightenment.

“Now Rama, both ladies entered King Padma’s palace, and Lila asked,

“How long, oh Sarasvati devi, have I spent in a trance? Remember, we both sat in meditation and I accompanied you in my subtle body. But where is my physically body now? I am not able to see it.”

“Lila, 21 days have passed since we began our travel to other universes. Due to intense meditation your body was very still and your breath had suspended. Then it evaporated. Your passion for Lilahood is not yet vanished, therefore, even though you are experienced you are still not enlightened. But now you are satya-sankalpa. As you will and think, so shall it happen.

“The unenlightened Lila is sitting there, but unless she sees me she cannot be seen or see anyone.” Then Sarasvati willed and the second Lila saw the Goddess as if hundreds of brilliant suns had risen in the palace, which were as cooling as hundreds of full moon nights. She bowed down to both ladies and offered them golden thrones.

“All glories to you, Oh divine Goddesses. It is through your mercy that I arrived here and am still well and safe.”

“How did you arrive here?” The Goddess asked.

“When my husband fell faint and wounded in battle, he was brought back to the palace. Seeing him that way I fell unconscious. But when I became aware I felt myself flying in the sky with the speed of light. Your messenger was guiding me. As air carries perfume, your messenger brought me here, and since then I have been sitting here, waiting for my husband’s awakening.”

“Sarasvati looked at the first Lila and said,

“Now I release the soul of the King.” And as she lifted her palm and blessed, just as air enters a lotus, the soul of the King entered the lifeless body of King Padma through his nostrils. Then, as flowers bloom and spread fragrance in Spring, his senses became conscious. The King rose from his flower bed and sat up. Both Lilas rushed with great love and joy in their hearts.

“Who are you?” The King asked looking at the second Lila holding a golden fan.

“This is Lila my lord. As meaning dwells with the word, so do I dwell with you. When you left your body here and were born in a new universe, due to your love for me, this Lila was projected from your mind. Our soul-guide through this arduous journey, has been Goddess Minerva who is sitting here on this throne.”

“The King looked, and lo, he saw the Goddess shining brightly and smiling. He hurried there and bowed down at her feet. He offered a heart felt invocation and Goddess Minerva blessed him to remain healthy, wealthy, and wise.

“You will govern your Kingdom for a long time wise King. No enemy will bother you any more. your citizens will wish you well with all of their heart.” Then smiling toward the three of them, she vanished into thin air.

“As soon as morning broke, music echoed throughout the capital. All heard the amazing news of the King resurrection and the Queen’s reappearance, and great celebrations and festivities began. Journalists and reporters rushed to broadcast the news all over the world. And people were astounded and thrilled.”

Conclusion of the Lila-Padma Tale

“Knowing, oh Prince, this extraordinary story of Lila and Padma,” Sage Vasistha said, “Drop the idea of solidness of this visible world!

“In the pure sky of consciousness this soul is the tiniest particle of an atom. And to this soul, inside himself, this world pops up.

“Oh Rama, this world never happened, never is, nor will it ever be. You are Bramha– pure, clean, shining, and effulgent.

“In the mind of soul a river of sensation has started flowing. In this river, as water bubbles, this world appears and vanishes. It is just vibration. You have got to stop this. Turn this sensation river inward. Make a dam through listening, contemplating, and meditating, and you are attained.”

“Oh great, dear sir, I am convinced by your theory of the world’s non-existence. Its nature is inconceivable. It is born of ignorance. It goes through changes, it is a perversion of atm?. And it is limited to the point of the ending of ignorance.

“Please kindly tell me then how the husband of Lila experienced successive creations in a series? While sometimes, to some, it was only a day, to others a month, and still to others years. How did it go?” Asked Dasaratha’s dear son.

“Dear Prince, Pure consciousness is one’s true Self. In whatever sensation it flows, everything turns in that way. Thus, sometimes billions of years flash by in a moment, while at other times a moment passes like billions of years. To some, poison tastes like nectar, as it did to Meera and Socrates, while to others nectar feels like poison, such as to a diabetic. Wonderful rasgullas and Godiva chocolates feel like killer pills. To some, even your best friend is an enemy, and to others, even your worst enemy is someone’s best friend!

“In America, successful looking, rich husbands and beautiful looking, talented wives keep fighting.

“Oh Rama, according to set patterns of atm?’s drift in the flow of sensations, people’s personality assumes varying shapes and identities. Accordingly, s/he is convinced only by correspondingly uplifting or degenerating theories, principles, and philosophies of life. One whose theories and principles are deeply pacifying to inner mechanisms, his or her convictions and goals turn into reality. The sensation has to be intense to bear proper fruit.

“Kindly tell me, how did the ministers and servants of Padma meet Viduratha?”

“Family, society, and all that, making which one invests oneself, becomes imbibed in oneself; which means, it becomes part of one’s sub and unconscious causal reality. Not of the spiritual reality of course. Then, when s/he is reborn, s/he is attracted by similar kinds of persons, places and environments. Then similar accidents also begin to follow.

“Lila’s husband was an advanced man. He was an evolved soul already from his past life. His allurements for Kingship was the only apparent mistake he committed that barred his path of enlightenment. This desire of his was the strongest. Thus the ministers and servants became part and partial of his sub and unconscious mind. Obviously he remembered them and likewise it followed.

“Rama, when a soul drops its atm?hood and assumes a physical identity, s/he becomes like ice and then stone. His stonification is set hard with strong wires and steel rods of bondage of actions in the form of their impressions.

Story of the Needle Monstress

“Rama, now listen to another story…

There was once a lady who was tall and black, and looked like a fire-like tongue. She lived in a Himalayan forest. She did austerity, (tapas), and at last Bramh?ji appeared to her. She asked for a boon to become a needle and to enter the heart of people and hurt them as much as she liked. Bramh? said, `Excepting those who have the experience of Mystica Transcensia, you will be able to hurt anyone.’ And he disappeared.

“As a mountain of desires, when it reduces turns small but strong, so she turned small and then after sometime she became a thunderbolt-needle. Then she started entering all kinds of people and would pinch, pierce, squeeze, and cut their hearts. Thus thousands of years she enjoyed hurting people. Then she wanted to do more tapas. She entered into a vulture. In pain the vulture flew faster and faster. When the vulture reached the Himalayas it vomited, and the Needle came out. Their the Needle lady started her tapas. Seven thousand years passed and at last Indra appeared and blessed her with higher consciousness. She resumed her former gigantic form and sat on a hilltop in lotus pose for six months. At last she felt extremely hungry. A voice echoed and said,

“Monstress, go and eat the unworthy people. Do not eat the wise ones, remember.”

“So she arose and went for hunting. She saw a King of a primitive tribe walking with his ministers and servants in the forest, and so she approached him.

“It is midnight in the forest, oh King, why have you intruded my territory? I am the Needle Monstress. If you can answer my questions, I can spare you, otherwise you’ll be killed and eaten by me tonight!”

“Oh Monstress, ask. I’ll answer you. Be happy and ask.”

“First, what is that one atom which has billions of names and forms, which is inherent in billions of universes?

“Second, what is that one space which has no hollow, but is full of cosmic rock?

“Third, What is that one moment in which billions of years are inherent?

“Answer me these three questions or I’ll devour you all.”

“Dear Ms. Needle, thank you for your wise questions. Listen now.

“Atom is atom; sky and moment are known in terms of subtly, and the finest subtlety of our experience is this mind. Mind is that atom which has billions of universes in itself. Mind is that moment which has billions of years in it. It is invisible like sky, yet, as hard and strong as rock, covering our intuition, our ?tm?, and our true Self.

“Oh wise King, I am so grateful to you for your enlightening answers. Who is that who, holding a light in his hand, sees only darkness all around, and falls into a ditch? Similarly, who is there who, associating with wise men like yourself, still suffers? You are the most adorable person. Please, tell me why you came to this dense forest at midnight?”

“My government spies informed me of the Needle Monstress who had recently arisen from her long austerity and was intent upon destroying my subjects. I came to find her out and keep her away.”

“Oh great King, I am that Monstress. You have already completely dissipated all the monstrosity of my heart. Wisdom is the way. Wisdom is the solution, which, unknowingly and indirectly roots out all the problems regardless of their kind and nature. You have done well.” She said and both bade farewell to each other.

“Dear son,” he said, “A long time ago, at the dusk of the creation, I rested. As soon as I awoke and looked around I saw vast, vast creations, exactly as mine and as wonderfully created. Ten of them were swirling with mirth and merry making. All which I create and develop in trillions of years were there in each of them. The same planets, gods, and races of species. I was wonder-struck. Then I called Surya, the Sun God, of one of the cosmic egg creations,

“Sir, I have been sleeping all along. Could you please tell me whose creations are all of these?” I asked pointing in dismay.

“In the last day of yours, (consisting of 4 billion years), in the Valley of Mt. Kailash, there lived your son. He made a guest house near his home. Indu and his wife came to live there. They both loved each other, but as grass doesn’t grow in the desert, no child was born to them. One day they both climbed a nearby tree and performed austerity. This continued for twelve long years. At last Lord Shiva appeared and they became refreshed like a lily seeing the moon.

“Ask for benediction,” he said.

“Please offer us ten sons.” They requested.

“So be it.” He said and vanished like a wave into the ocean.

“Both returned home and lived happily. Next year Mrs. Indu became pregnant and gave birth to ten powerful sons. When they became seven years old, their parents died. The ten sons left home on an expedition of greatness. They came to a grass-clad hill and sitting over-looking the silvery stream of Ganga, they began to discuss about who is great.

“All were convinced and so they sat in lotus pose and began to contemplate on Bramh?’s power, state of mind, and activities. They looked like painted pictures on paper. A long time passed. Their bodies dried up and fell down by the attacks of heat, wind, and rain. Wild animals ate their body remnants, wrestling with each other and pulling their bodies through their teeth. Even then their meditation didn’t break. Two tigers tore them in pieces but still their meditation wasn’t disturbed. Then the time of delusion came. The 12 suns began scorching, still their meditation went on; the 49 winds began to blow, still their meditation wasn’t disturbed; the 49 rains showered, still they kept meditating. At the end they became Bramh?s of their own ten creations. Among those ten creations, I am the sun of one creation. Moment, day, week, fortnight, month, and age occur by me. This is the story of the creations you saw, Your Majesty.” The Sun God replied.

“Now there are ten Bramh?s and their ten so nice creations…. Then what have I to do? It’s useless to do anything…” Said Bramh?.

“Creation is only your play. You are desireless. Just like a reflection in the water is natural, so your creation is an expression of your presence. To the ignorant you are the creator. But to the wise you are just existence, crystal clear, pure. Creation is your natural action, your dharma, the daily duty. Perform your action selflessly, without expecting anything at all. You know better your divinity. Who am I to teach you.” The Sun God said.

“You’re right dear Sun, well said. Tell me something more. I would like to hear from you about the mystery of dharma.”

“All right your Majesty, since you have asked, I will gladly relate a great story to you.

“Romeo and Juliet loved each other so much that even the King became interested. His eyes fell on Juliet’s beauty, but she constantly thought and thought only about Romeo. Day by day she became more lean and thin. The King brought her to his palace and kept her under his special care. But she never looked to anything or anyone of the palace with interest, passion, or curiosity. Nothing was pleasurable. She became more pale, tormenting like a fish in a desert. She shouted,

“Oh Romeo, oh my dear beloved, where are you?” One of her friends then went and brought him to meet her. Looking at his face she became so happy. Her face bloomed like a lotus. They embraced each other and spent the night happily. Romeo forgot everything except Juliet.

“The next day the King was very angry. He caught them together, arrested them, and threw them in the mud, still they remained above. He threw them in the ocean, but the waves respectfully placed them back on the shore. The King threw them into a blazing fire, but they stayed inside the flame, unburned, smiling, and looking at each other. All of the citizens were amazed.

“Oh, you wicked, immoral wretches. How come you don’t suffer?” Asked the King.

“Because I don’t know my self, all I see is Romeo and Romeo.” Said Juliet.

“Me too, all I see is Juliet and Juliet and none else. We have no self to suffer. When there’s ego, then suffering and pain is addressed to it. But we don’t have, so no suffering can push us to suffer. We are free in our love. King, can you understand?” Said Romeo.

“The King became even more angry. He went to his tantrik priest and said,

“Please curse these two shameless creatures to die!”

“Oh you sinners, go die!” He uttered with red rolling eyes.

“You wickeds, what else can you do to us, except slaying our bodies? Our heart has become immortal. You’re doing a senseless action and wasting the power of your austerity.” Saying thus, due to the power of the curse, they fell down dead. But then they became two lovely deer, and loved each other all of their lives. Then, after death, they became two love birds. Now they have been born in our time again as a bramhin and his wife. The tantrik curse destroyed only their bodies. It cannot effect their minds. The decision of the mind becomes rock-solid. Even though it is open, space-like, still, at the same time it is rock-like. It is our world, but it’s just our mind. Innumerable world-illusions abide in the mind.”

“Okay, that’s wonderful dear Sun. Now I want you to do me a favor. I would like to have a wise man like you in my Creation. So please, divide yourself in two forms.”

“Mr. Sun okayed, and thus with one form he remained the Sun of the former creation, and with his new body he became Svayambhuva Manu, in whose ancestry Iksvaku the Great was born, your ancestor, Oh Rama, in whose race both you and your father have been born.”

Hearing this the entire audience was awe struck and began looking around the room, up into the sky, and back to the King, Prince, and Sage.

“Dear Sir,” Rama’s voice echoed at last, “When a curse is uttered, ordinarily, along with the body, mind, senses and intelligence become dull and stonified too. We have no example of a time when a curse effected only the body, leaving the mind all free and joyful. Mind and body are interconnected, exactly as air and vibration, and butter and fat are non-different, so are the mind and world non-different.” Rama asked.

Then Vasistha said,

“Consciousness becomes mind, and body is conceived in the mind, as a body figure in a dream. Those who have intense identifications with body, only unto them do curses work on both mind and body. If anyone, either through love, as this couple did, or through knowledge as Kakabhusundi, or through yoga, like the Needle Monstress, can rise above body and mind, then curses can reach only to the body. And also, if a curse is released to a more powerful being from a less powerful one, it may not effect him at all, unless s/he accepts it to respect the other’s word.

“Prince Rama, just like the hit of a lotus flower can not break solid rock, the same way, a curse, mantra, tantra, ghost, sin, physical or mental disease cannot touch those established in Absolute Bramha. If it does, it only means something is amiss. Therefore, organize your mind and rise above the illusion of this world. Just like clay, gold, plastic, rubber, and flour assume so many forms, the same way, modifications of the mind transform themselves into millions of unimaginable forms.”

Story of the Cosmic-Void Forest

“Prince Rama, listen, I want to tell you another story. There is a one hundred mile long forest. Its name is Cosmic-void. In a small, tiny part of that forest I once saw a huge bush. In that bush I saw a guy who had one thousand hands and one thousand eyes. He was restless and feeling terrible. He was six feet tall and running fast like a mad man for hundreds of yards, back and forth, beating himself with all of his mighty muscular hands. Becoming weak he would fall faint on patches of cacti and thorns. Then he would spring up in great pain, shouting and screaming.

“Next he saw a burning fire and misconceiving it as some object of pleasure, he entered into it. Hollering loudly he fell back out of it with severe burns all over his body. Then racing again in and through the entire bush and forest, he began beating himself with his strong hands. At last he entered a banana park where a cool and mild breeze was blowing. He stayed there for a while, but then pushed away again and began racing around the forest wildly. Falling flat, limping, burning, sinking in mud, deep water, and garbage holes. Thus he kept moving everywhere. I caught hold of him at last and asked him,

“Hi guy, why are you doing this to yourself?”

“Who, me?” He said shocked with surprise that I should even talk to him. And eyeing me strangely he said, “No, I’m no one, I am not doing anything.” Then he said wildly,

“Oh my god, no, no, you’re my enemy. I’m being destroyed by your look! Get lost! Get out of here dangerous fellow!” He thought that his hands, feet, chest, and head were all falling off by my presence.

“I went further and saw another man doing the same thing. I asked him the same question and he just laughed. I came closer. He dropped his limbs off and felt happy.

“I roamed all around and saw that all the inhabitants of that Cosmic-void forest were doing the same thing. I approached them all. Many ran away looking at me frantically. Many shut their doors and nailed up their windows and chimney holes shouting, `Oh no, the enemy came, enemy came!’

“Rama, you too have seen this forest. But rejoice, you are not doing like them. That’s great. But dear, watch out.”

“Holy Sire, you surprise me. Where is such a forest? I do not recall any such strange place. I have never visited there. Please solve this puzzle.”

“Prince Rama, this world is that Cosmic-void forest. In fact, it is actually an Enlightenment Club, but somehow it has turned into an asylum. This mind is that one thousand handed and one thousand eyed guy. Passionate clinging to sensational objects are his muscular limbs and tall size. Involving in action with a thousand expectations is beating himself with his own hands. The deep, dark, dry well is the five-misunderstanding composed, stereotype vision, blind faith in self-devolving principles, and association with low spirited people, and even being a citizen of a wisdomless nation.

“Performing fruitive actions, going to celestial planes of existence, and enjoying for a while, is going in the banana park. Wife, sons, daughters, friends and family are the thorny bushes. Going through the hellish conditions of life and tough times is falling in the mud, flood, or getting burned in the fire.

“Discretion is represented by my arrival. As soon as the mind confronts discretion, introspection, self-analysis, and witness, the limbs of passionate clinging start falling off.

“Looking at me, those who ran away crying were dense ignorant. They are goners. Those who confronted and painfully lost their clinging are moderate mediocre people. Those who, looking at me, laughed and lost their limbs, still rejoicing, are highly qualified seekers of Truth.

“Oh Rama, to the ignorant ones, one’s own actions are the cause of bondage. Because one does them thoughtlessly. When the sun rises the snow melts away. The same way, with the practice of introspection, the ego-snow will melt away and the age-old sun of wisdom of Bramha will shine out brilliantly. Just like you see water in the sun rays, a city in the clouds, flowers in the space, like-wise is the mind in the ?tm?, dear Rama.”

“Rama, worldly talks are children’s talks. They are interesting only to unwise ones. There was a child who said to his baby sitter one day,

“Tell me, oh Judy Garland, a story which never happened before, will never happen in the future, and is not happening now.”

“Okay baby, listen. There was a city bigger than New York, London, and Los Angeles, which had no boundaries. Its streets and parks were far more beautiful than Disney Land situated on a rubbish heap. Its name was Zero City. It had a Mayor. He founded the city before time began. He had three powerful, handsome, and high-character sons. Among these three, two had never been born, and one had not been conceived. They drove outside Zero City in a streetless town, on an urgent business trip. Their business was platonic love like Juliet and Romeo. They raced in three sports cars, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn, which were out of gas. Their limbs were as delicate and soft as flowers of the mustard plants. The sun scorched them. They parked their cars under three caster trees. Two of those trees were to be born in the year 2,000 AD, and the seed of the third had been lost at home by the city gardener the night before. They rested under those caster trees, ate their fruits, drank their juices, made garlands of their flowers, and packaged them for their beloveds. Then they proceeded.

“In their way they saw three rivers rising in garlanding waves of pearls. Two of them had no water and the third was lying dry. In the crystal clear water of those rivers they kept swimming and enjoying, water skiing and racing their father’s cigarette speed boats. When dusk neared, they leapt into their sports cars and dashed faster than the speed of light in the no-speeding zone. At midnight, they arrived at the Future City which hadn’t been built. There were three gigantic sky scraper buildings, two of which were still in the drawing stage, and one which had no walls. When they parked their cars in front of them, their three most beautiful girlfriends emerged wearing red-sequenced dresses that were still with the tailor being sewn. Two of them were still-births, and the third of hadn’t been born. They offered them gifts and embraced them tightly. By the time the embrace completed they were turned into each other.

“Then the ladies introduced their parents, whose names were Mr. Unmanifest, Mrs. Formless, and their brother, Without Attributes. The family loved them so much that they never let them go, and arranged for their marriage to their daughters. They happily spent 96 billion dollars to celebrate their wedding. At the wedding Mrs. Formless took ninety-nine thousands minus one hundred thousand grains of rice and a ton of milk which hadn’t been milked yet, and made a beautiful rice pudding. Her daughter brought her one hundred shiny golden bowls, ninety nine of which were pulverized and one which had a gaping hole in the bottom. Mrs. Formless filled the dish with the gaping hole and distributed the food to her guests, none of whom had bodies, except one who had no mouth. They ate the delicious pudding and were very happy. The brides and grooms ate the remainder, and were equally happy.

“That evening, all of the guests waved the brides and grooms goodbye, although they had no hands. They flew to the island resort of Bermuda, which hadn’t yet been inhabited. There they stayed in a three, million-dollar honeymoon suites, and drank champagne from grapes which had never been picked.

“At last when it was time to go to bed, they all fell into an identity crisis. And they are still there, all stuck, confused, and bewildered about what to do next.

“Prince Rama, as true as is this story, the same is the truth of this world. No doubt about it.

“Just like a foolish child becomes scared of a ghost by looking at his own shadow, people of the world are sinking in the water swirl of their own mental fancy and fantasy.”

“Oh Sage, tell me, what is this will and what is this shadow?”

“Dear Rama, this gross physical body is a shadow, because it is composed of one’s own will-texture. Ego is the ghost. Every body-identified person is this scared child.

“Projecting multicolored ambitions, expectations, plans and projects, and this textured-ego upon the body, which is merely a shadow, people have become mad and are racing around senselessly. This ego too is just an illusion upon the vast conscious expansion of Bramha.

“When the light of a gem falls upon another gem, it is non-different from the gem; the same way, when the world appears in consciousness, it is non-different from Bramha. Just like the waves and whirls appear in water due to its liquidness but are all water, the same way, the varieties reflecting over ?tm? through mind are non-different from ?tm?.

“This unsynthesized, ununitable, eternally separate diversity which is appearing to you, is simply due to incorrect vision. This needs to be fixed.

“Just like, by crushing a flower, the perfume is not destroyed, by snow-fall, when the lotus is destroyed the bee is not destroyed, when a cloud is destroyed the breeze is not destroyed, by the destruction of a pitcher, the air inside is not destroyed, the same way, by the destruction of the body, one’s real Self is not destroyed.

“The world is a prison made of ice. You have to melt it through the heat of the fire of wisdom and walk out in total freedom. The world is like a hollow sky. Due to misunderstanding it appears in innumerable forms. Through materialistic education it expands in gigantic sizes and forms. But by being acquainted with knowledge and seeing it as the master magician it is, it vanishes.”

Dusk fell and the royal assembly dispersed. All went to take their baths and perform their evening ablutions. In the night they rested and contemplated deeply what Vasistha had spoken. All were quiet. Pin-drop silent reigned supreme in Ayodhya. The sages entered deep meditation. And all creatures subconsciously prepared themselves for the next morning’s ongoing illumining exposition.

“Oh Prince, Mind enlarges the smallest into the tallest, and shrinks the tallest to the smallest. That which is one’s own, mind attributes to others, while others’ things it attributes to oneself. In one moment it expands to the breadth of the world, and in the next is contracts itself to the size of a sesame seed. That which is far, it depicts as near, and that which is near, it depicts as being very far away. Accordingly, the senses and body have to adjust themselves. A child makes so many things with wet clay and gives them all names, the same way, mind makes the entire world and gives it innumerable names. Parallelogram, trapezoid, rhombus, polygon, and octagon, all of these are mind’s concoctions to make a simple thing complicated; just extra words to remember; and by the time you want to learn about your Self, the mind is too full with rubbish. Simple things, and your mind can’t understand them.

“Whatever there is, a person, place, time, and thing, all are made of mind. Subject, object, and action, seer, seen, and sight, all are mind’s game. Listen to another story please.

“As there is a beautiful city Paris, France, so was there once a most prosperous city of gems and jewels, governed by the President of Atlantis. Surrounded by green forests, parks, fruit and flower clad trees, that city was constantly echoing with music and the rejoicing sounds of the citizens. The air was ever sweet and mild. Every house was decorated with silver gold and gems.

“The president’s palace was made of shining marble. His living room, bed rooms, showers, and guest houses were as marvelous as those of Buckingham Palace and the White House. The president was fond of all that was new, best and majestic. He was a peace-loving man, non-violent, a strict vegetarian, and kind to his subjects.

“His palace was heavenly. His family loved him. Every day he attended to his duties in the royal assembly. He had nine wisemen in his court. Music was echoing always. He would sit on his golden throne with his assembly all around him. Tax paying Kings always filled one quarter of his assembly. Beautiful ladies used to give dance programs. One early afternoon the following incident occurred.

“The president had just finished his responsibilities of the morning when a magician arrived and asked for permission to show his performance. He was permitted. He wore his stylish Elvis or Beatles-like attire and with great acting, pomp, and show, he started moving all around in the space before the King and assembly members. Then he opened his box and took out a peacock feather. He began waving it all around. It resembled bright red rays of the sun. In the sky a cloud rumbled and quieted. Then an elegant ambassador of some known King appeared holding the reins of a tall white shining decorated horse.

“Your Majesty, all glories to you, please see, this is the same horse which came out after churning the milk ocean in the Golden Age. Please try riding him. A great angel has sent him for you. He’s yours.”

“And as soon as the King picked up the reins and leapt on the horse’s back, it galloped and flew in the air with the speed of light. It raced and raced and raced, non-stop, out of control. It took him to a lonesome dangerous land which resembled the ruins of ancient nuclear-blasted country. It was as if a new world, devoid of all beauty and softness of nature, existed unknown to the King.

“The horse took the King on a hard course in an empty land, which resembled the mind of an ignorant man. There no green grass and no green trees grew, nor were any men visible. Feeling hot and sticky, he became unconscious and fell down from the horse. The horse disappeared. When he became conscious again, the King was all alone and dusk was approaching. Darkness was increasing but there was no shelter. At last he chose a patch of dusty earth under a dead tree. The night was cold and he was hungry. There was no water around. He laid down on the bare earth. His knees were curled up near his chin. Shivering and worrying, he spent the night like one hundred years.

“As soon as the sun rose he got up and walked. He walked and walked without any knowledge of where he was going. At midday his feet gave a last ultimatum. Thus, with his stomach screaming, the hot sun beating upon his head, and perspiration running down his limbs, he dragged himself along. He felt as helpless and poor as if he had been sold in the market of Athens. Some enthusiasm rose up when he heard a few birds chirping and saw green trees in the distance. Dusk was approaching again. Approaching the patch of green trees he saw an ugly young girl. She was dirty and stinking terribly. She was holding a clay jar filled with rice and some vegetables. Like the moon comes to darkness the King came to her.

“Young lady, please give me some food, I’m very hungry. One who offers food to the hungry attains prosperity.”

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear that oriental stuff! We follow western customs here. We do only business and nothing else!” She yelled, her dirty hair dangling over her face, covering her rolling red eyes. Tossing them back she peered at him and said,

“Get lost you lazy fellow.” And she walked away. Then, like a shadow, Lawana followed her.

“Get out of here you bum, you parasite, beggar, go away.” She yelled at the top of her voice. “What do you want from me?”

“Food, I’m hungry good lady. Just give me a little food.”

“I already told you that in our culture we don’t give anything unless we get something in return. Since you have nothing else but your good looks, I can agree to feed you if you become my husband. I’ll give you half the food of my jar. It is all for my father who is also very hungry, working in the field all day long as he does.”

“Oh my God,” the King sobbed, “I can’t marry you unless I want to vomit and spit every two minutes. No, no, I can’t.” He gasped.

“Then go die, I’m leaving.” She began to walk away. The King was aghast.

“Wait, wait, just a minute. All right, yes, all right, I’ll marry you.” Lawana said looking at her ugly face. His heart sank and his head hung low.

“Then she stopped, looked back and laughed like hell.

“Okay, I can feed you now, my father will forgive me. So take, eat fast.” She said pushing up some romance on her hardened stupid-looking face. She then fed him. Then she took him to her father like a messenger of death drags a sinner to his Lord and her broken bamboo-like voice echoed,

“Father, I caught this jerk for my husband.” The demonic looking ugly man stared with red drunken eyes as if angry and said,

“Well done” and he began eating his food like an animal. “Take your jerk home. Take care he shouldn’t run away.” And the girl caught his hand with a mighty, coarse grip. And they came.

“Is this a home or a left-over butcher shop?…” Lawana was thinking to himself looking around. Somewhere bones, flesh, somewhere blood, skins and skins of dogs, asses, elephants, and goats were scattered around, stinking horribly, spreading bacteria all over. Crossing all of them she brought him to her mom and said,

“Mom, this is your new son-in-law.” She peered and stared. She was like some witch, harsh toned, dirty, violent looking. After that, whatever they gave him, he ate, and he slept where they told him, as if going through the fruits of all the sins of the entire world.

“Then the wedding day arrived. Lawana was dressed in stinking yellow clothes, wreathed with leather, and placed beside his hellish bride. With a sinking heart and a parching face he stood before the altar. Many black, ugly, yellow, rotten teethed, untouchables came to cheer them on. Their laughter and dances were as if tearing off every fiber of Lawana’s heart. It lasted seven days. His wife became pregnant and a girl was born. Three years later a boy. Then another set of 3 boys and 3 girls. Thus Lawana became a big family man. He went with his wife to many social gatherings, including relatives who invited them to have a look at their handsome cousin, and he became accustomed to hunting birds, crocodiles, fish, cocks, and elephants. Working hard in the hot sun, sleeping on animal skins, intestines, and flesh, drinking blood and eating corpses became his way of life. Great attachment developed towards those ugly fellows and hellish creature-like, restless kids. Their restlessness closely resembled that of monkeys drunk on a double scotch and bitten by a scorpion. Like the flooded Mississippi river, his hankering grew on and on and on.

“Eight years passed. Then the rain stopped. Famine spread. The sun fell on the land scorching everything like an oven. Wild life died, trees and ponds dried up. People started leaving their homes and towns. Many people died in hunger and thirst. Lawana took his family and went in search of a better place to live. He had grown old now. His hair was white and wrinkles hung all over. As a dry leaf moves in the wind, likewise, under the pressure of the wind of karma, he kept wandering from one dirty village to another. His Presidency had completely disappeared from his mind, and bumhood had taken over.

“Everyone was so hungry that people started eating people, and animals ate other animals. Lawana was resting under a tree when his little boy came and asked for food. Lawana said, “Son, there is no food, but you can eat my flesh. I will set a fire, wait until I’m cooked properly, then eat.” “Okay, okay,” the kids said excitedly. “That’s acceptable now. It’s the fashion. It is praise worthy, a truly selfless act. Every family man should do it.”

“So they built a fire and he hugged everyone and entered the flames. He glanced at his ugly looking, harsh toned wife, holding three kinds on her hips, waiting impatiently for his death and speedily available cooked meat.

“Oh, don’t look back, die quickly. After all, it will take time to be cooked and the firewood is less!” That’s what their eyes spoke louder and loudest. No feeling of love, no pain of separation, no tears in their eyes. Just wasted time. As soon as he entered the fire in the pain of burning he trembled and looked and opened his eyes. And there he was in his royal assembly. He was sitting on his golden throne. Two beautiful young ladies were fanning him. The bards were singing his praises. Music was echoing and incense was wafting. Everything was clean and spotless. The entire assembly was gazing and worrying at the King’s condition, wondering what had happened to him. The royal physician was standing over him. It had been only 48 minutes since the King had swooned. And as soon as he awoke he shouted at the top of his voice,

“Whose city is this? Whose assembly is this? Who is the King?”

“Your Majesty, you are our beloved King. You are the world’s sovereign. The songs of your power, wealth, and knowledge are sung everywhere.” The ministers said.

“The King described the whole story to the assembly and everyone was shocked. They looked at the magician who vanished instantly.

“I too was sitting in that assembly, Prince Rama. I saw this incident happen myself. This atomic mind is the greatest store of illusion and ignorance. When it vibrates innumerable visions loom up. Drop them and abide in your own true Self.”

“Practice Self-realization. Cut off the creeper of passion through the ax of understanding. Passion alone is the barrier in realization.

“In spiritual activities, whatever is done with involvement of mind, that has value and not otherwise. Whatever you offer, whatever you accept, devotion, gratefulness, dutifulness, love, all of these are just synonyms for the mind. Your mind is all what you are; body is just inert. It is mind alone that assumes the forms of mountain, rivers, and oceans, like an expert actor. It enlarges the tiny, and tinifies the largest; falsifies the truth and validates the false. It hostilizes friends and befriends enemies. Your great ancestor, King Harischandra, who ruled in this same city of Ayodhya, when he lost his kingdom and had to work as a servant in the cemetery of the city Varanasi, that night, when his sold-out son died and was brought to him for cremation, one single night seemed to be twelve years long. On the other hand, happily living with his nice wife, in his beautiful palace, twelve years seemed like a week. Last week Johnny Carson retired from his business of laughing and making people laugh. Just like this, almost like a finger snap, he said, his 30 years had passed. Like a pleasant dream…

“Happily sitting in the midst of a festival, if mind indulges in some worry or becomes intense, then right in the midst of a celebration the entire show can become a hell.

“The basis of all senses is the mind. When mind breaks-up, tastes and preferences of senses disperse. They brake and roll away like beads of a necklace. Mindless senses are senseless. Pleasantness in the breeze, hardness in the earth, light in the sun and fire, liquidity in water, spaciousness in the sky, existence in all things is only due to mind. It is mind which turns a place, time, situation and thing topsy-turvy, completely upside down. Whatever decision is settled in the mind deeply, that only succeeds. You cannot know, cannot feel, cannot see, cannot taste, or enjoy the presence of even your most beloved, beautiful wife without mind.

“Prince Rama, a wise man was sitting deep in meditation in a forest and a wild beast came and ripped off one of his hands and took it away to eat. To him it didn’t matter. His mind was in Bramha experience. As King Lawana suffered his bumhood, all people of the world are suffering their bumhood. It is due to the mind that demons become angles and angles become monsters. Humans become pythons, beasts and trees and others become human.

“Just as oil lives in a mustard seed, so do sufferings and happiness live inside the mind of man. Just as crushing mustard seeds in a machine presses out the oil, by the union of mind and sense objects, pleasure and pain are pressed out.

“A warrior riding on a horse goes in the battlefield. Then, even though he is restless in fighting, still his horse remains under his control. Likewise, in the enlightened state, mind may appear that he is showing his business, but still you are not moved an inch from your Bramhic sthiti, your highly exalted state.

“Whose mind is vehemently racing towards worldly things, he or she is a worm of the garbage. He is a seed of the poisonous tree. And just as a grass or dry leaf spins helplessly in a water whirl, reeling down the river with an unpredictable future, likewise is the life of all those whose life has become mindified and fortified by mind moats and walls.”

Cutting the Iron by Iron Alone

“Dear Rama,” Sage Vasistha continued, “I shall tell you an invincible cure for this severe disease of the mindification of life. This medicine is: an unshakable conviction to labor hard to destroy the ghost of the entire mind set-up. Start rejecting all that is pleasurable to the mind. Deny it. Stop cooperating. Start a non-cooperation campaign like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Thoreau.

“Just as iron is cut by iron alone, cut this mindification trap through mind itself. Withdraw from sights and penetrate into feelingfulness, into consciousness, into the oneness of existence. Through desiring, mind gathers muscles and becomes more muscular and invincible. Address the mind inward and let Bramha swallow it up. Steady this mind through the mind. In order to fight one King another King is appropriate. The same way, to fight the mind only mind is the law. Whether you apply control or satisfaction depends on you. But know for sure that mind is the cause of its own bondage.

“From wherever mind rises in hope, with whatever passion, use the knife of understanding to cut it off and weaken the ties of ignorance. Drop each passion of enjoyment one by one.

“To a wolf darkness appears even in day time. The same way, to ignorant beings this world appears. As long as attachment to sense gratification exists, ignorance exists. The joy of the senses is as temporary as lightening. Lightening depends on clouds; so these rural joys depend on the patterns of hankering established in the mind for their enjoyments. Hankering is composed of past happy remembrances of joyful associations. When you have a nightmare or remember your heartache, you suffer. When you don’t remember them, you don’t suffer. When you don’t suffer, even when you are all alone with nothing to do, you are in peace. Then you are capable of experiencing Bramha.

“When a deer visits a mirage for water, its stupidity is shown by how many times and how fast it goes there. Similarly, the degree of one’s ignorance is revealed by how fast and how often one races for sense gratification. This race is based on a pattern of hankering. And this age old fire of stupidity keeps burning. The fuel of hankering has to be removed, piece by piece. Then the wind of discretion must blow. And here comes Enlightenment…”

“Holy Sire, Why did Lawana fall in such a serious trouble? Who was that magician?” Asked Rama.

7 Stages of Ignorance

“Holy Sire, please tell me more about the state of Bramha-consciousness and its difference from ignorance, in which people like Lawana keep suffering so much.”

“Prince, there are seven stages of ignorance, and seven stages of knowledge. The ultimate climb up these stages to the seventh state of knowledge leads to the experience of Bramha. I will delineate them for you,

(1) To become split from the cosmic universality of ISNESS and turn into soul, is the Seed State.

(1) When you begin to mourn the absence of clear discretion, and feel that you have truly missed it all of your life; when you feel that you have been wasting your time with insignificant causes, and that you mustn’t waste a second more; and you decide to study the wisdom of the Truth, search for the meaning of life, and associate with those who are connoisseurs of this subject; then you have reached the first stage of Knowledge known as the Holy Wish Stage.

(4) Becoming established in Bramha by listening and constantly thinking on the Truth for hours at a stretch, and meditating deeply, is tatvaj?ana; the Firm Establishment Stage.

“Prince Rama, now listen to the second half of King Lawana’s adventure. All day and night King Lawana kept thinking about his heart-rending, horrifying dream. He became confused as to whether it was true or false. And at last he decided to find out.

“The next morning he called his armies together and marched out for world-conquest. He went to the south where the mysterious horse had taken him. He saw all those places he had been to. He also saw the dead tree under which he had spent that torturous night. He saw the place where he had first begged for food from the ugly girl. He saw where they were married and where he used to go hunting and to work. Then he came to the colony of the chandalas, the bums. That too was the same place. There he saw the house he had lived in for many years. Sitting in dark, crying alone, his mother-in-law was there. She was saying over and over,

“My son, oh my son, where have you gone now? How nice you used to look wearing the intestine garland of the black deer, drinking the red blood of the pink pig and white goat wine. The wine that you made and the blood you shared with us were so delicious….”

“King Lawana was shocked. But somehow he managed to muster up enough energy to speak.

“Madame, why are you crying? Tell me what happened?”

“Snarling and looking up with a wrinkled face and tattered, stinking hair the mother-in-law said,

“Don’t you know anything? Don’t you even care? Just recently, due to famine, all of my family members left for a better place, but not finding one, my son-in-law died. He burned himself, walking into a fire, to feed his family. I’m crying for him. Don’t you have any decency to let a person mourn in peace? He was great, far greater than you can ever hope to be. He was so handsome, and everybody liked him.”

“The King fell into shock again. He looked at his ministers dumbfoundedly. Then he asked many more questions relating to his stay. He became even more puzzled when she answered all of them correctly. Giving her some wealth, he returned to his capital. Then he invited me and asked me,

“Holy Sire, how come the dream became a reality?”

“I told him that, in dreams, unconsciousness and death, intellect confronts a heavy pressure of controversial images. The cause or passion is constantly repeated. The central core of his dream was his filial affection to his family members; his desire to serve them exclusively, no matter what. Making this weakness the radius, his sensations weaved this entire occurrence, prolonged through one lifetime. Whose mind has fallen off from his Self, ignorance shows all kinds of illusions. And remember, similar dreams may occur to many, just as the same rope can be misconceived as a highly poisonous cobra by thousands. The same or similar illusion occurs to a family, society, nation, and the entire world. In their existence his mind became sensitive. Their images became imprinted in his mind and ignorance cemented it. Then his will, his intellect, moved according to the pattern set. Everything became concrete.

“By the disappearance of sun rays a mirage is destroyed; still the rays are not destroyed. The same way his illusion was destroyed, not him. His shadow was gone, not him.

“Sweet music, soft touch, taste, beauty, perfume, and all joyous objects are you yourself, Rama, not separate at all. Separation is an illusion. These three kinds of illusion: sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic, are passion-fabrications. Passion is like a blue color in the empty sky. It is like a rainbow, fog, or mist. Waves rise from the ocean, only to submerge again. Oh Rama, this rainbow of the glamorous world too needs to be submerged into your Self.”

“Reverend One, I’m beginning to get a glimpse of what you are pointing at, that this world is an illusion constructed by mind alone, but it is still so inconceivable to me. Can you please elucidate it again, holy Sire?”

“Prince Rama, I shall. Please listen to the following wonder-filled story.

“There is a world famous mountain in the mighty Himalayas, known as Mandarachal. This mountain is extremely picturesque. On its slopes are rivers, and waterfalls, forests and glens, glades, and clearings. There are berry bushes and groves of Mand?r trees with their red flowers spreading perfumes like clouds over the mountain. The filaments of those flowers fill the air like confetti in a New Year’s Eve parade.

“Once there lived two powerful sages. Great Sage Bhrigu, (the son of Bramh?, and my brother through that association), and his son, Shukra. They sat in deep meditation on two separate hills. Bhrigu entered into Nirvikalpa samadhi. But Shukra had yet to work on himself. At times he would take a bath in the river, wear fresh clothes, and flower garlands, oil his dark black long hair, and stroll around, after several hours of sitting in meditation. He was improving. He was happy that he was able to stay in timeless, bodiless, and egoless state of deep experience for many hours. And he would sing songs of his bliss and peace.

“Shukra’s heart, full of love, couldn’t stop thinking of her. He came to his cottage, showered, wore new clothes and sat in meditation. But instead of successfully transcending and landing on the planes of Mystica Transcensia, his thought of Visvachi became more intense. His desire became a longing, the longing became a hankering, and the hankering became a passion. Due to passionate clinging to the memory and name of that lady, his tinified affliction of past impressions of romance and were woken-up. They became fused and infused with the power of his punyas and became a concrete rock of will. Then this will entwined with the image of the nymph, and hurled by the electrical force of a million-watt meditation energy, he was moved in his meditation through the creation.

“He arrived in her planet in no time. To his utter surprise he saw that he was in Indra’s heaven. Homes were made of pure gold, and doors and pillars were made of gems and jewels. Every home had a will-driven, silver or crystal, non-pollutant airplane. All of the people were young and beautiful. A mild, cool breeze was blowing softly by all of the time. Kalpavrikshas and Parijatas, two wish-fulfilling trees, were in full-bloom, and the famed Nandana garden was more indescribable than Shukra could have thought possible.

“He moved all around the planet. Indra came to receive him. He greeted and garlanded him, and holding his hand he brought him to his assembly.

“We are very happy to see you Shukra. Please stay here for as long as you please.”

“Lost among such a warm welcome and appreciation in the planet of his beloved, Shukra forgot his former body which was still sitting in meditation on Mt. Mandara. His identification in the present mental body became rock-like.

“He sat near King Indra, surrounded by important celestials, but his mind kept wondering about Visvachi.

“Let me take you on a tour of my planet. I’ll show you it myself.” Indra said. And accompanied by dozens of celestials they went to see all of the places, people and things in heaven.

“At last they came to a famous dance hall. About a dozen nymphs were giving great performances. There she was. As soon as Shukra saw her, his eyes became winkless and she too. Their hearts melted like chandrakant gems melt under the rays of the moon. Tears came to their eyes, and their limbs perspired in shyness.

“Everyone knew they were in love. Upon their return Indra gave him a magnificent mansion to live in. Then he sent a message to Visvachi to take good care of Shukra. Thus their honeysuckle days began.

“Holding hands, singing songs, showered with romantic sweet words and expressions, embracing, kissing, and spending all of their time together, became the way of their lives. They raced around the lotus filled ponds in the Nandana Grove, strolled and rested under the desire trees, adorned each other in beautiful silk clothes, garlands, and diamond studded ornaments. They sported in all of the famous and historic places of heaven.

“One day Indra told them,

“You can go anywhere in my empire of the three worlds and enjoy, my children.

“So riding on the rays of the full moon they went to the Gandharva Planet and enjoyed immensely. Then they went to a sub-heavenly planet and sang, danced, ate and drank profusely. They moved one by one to all of the planets, joining concerts and parties. They strolled, shopped, and wandered around the malls of different planets. They ate thousands of kinds of delicious foods, made love millions of times in millions of beautiful locations, and at last they came to the best spot on Mt. Kailash. There they strolled in the sweet lush, green bushes where Shiva-Parvati’s union perfume was constantly wafting in the air. Then they went to Lokalok Mountain, and from there to Mt. Mandara. But Shukra totally forgot that this was the place where his body was still sitting in its meditation pose. They strolled all around. At last they returned to the Gandharva planet, and from there to Indra’s planet Svah, where they resided for many million more solar years.

“Now all of Shukra’s meritorious deeds were consumed. And, as it is said,

“While Shukra enjoyed and suffered so long mentally, his body remained seated on the same meditation seat in Mandarachal mountain. A long time passed. At last the heat of the sun, wind, and rain tossed and turned his body. It feel to the ground like a rotten tree. His mouth lay wide open and his eyes became big holes. Water flew from one hole to the next. Animals and birds didn’t touch his body because it was situated in the ashram of the powerful sage Bhrigu. The vibrations of non-violence were intense, and the future was still at hand.

“One day, after 360,000 years of meditation had passed, Sage Bhrigu opened his eyes. He got up from his meditation, but didn’t see his son Shukra. He walked to his son’s part of the ashram. There he saw his son’s old and rotten body. Death had taken away his life. Worms were crawling all over and flies were buzzing. His white teeth were shining, protruding through the skeleton as if laughing at his power. His face and hands had all become white bone. Bhrigu became very angry at Death himself. “How dare he do this to my son!? I’ll curse and turn him into ashes!” He willed.

“Death became afraid. Very concerned he arrived, six faces, six hands, holding a sword, a trident, and noose. Wearing pearl earrings, emanating flames from his mouth, with his tall, black body, and red coal like eyes he said,

“Great Sage, Knower of Bramha, do not fall in the pit of anger. There are billions of gods and universes that I have devoured. Fire goes up, water goes down, body decays and dies. It is natural; it’s the law. As a cobra is misconceived in a rope, so duties and responsibilities are also seen upon the Self. I am not showing you my power or knowledge. This is the very way of the world. In order for soul to go to where its evolutionary process leads, body has to be dropped. Soul is also another name for mind. The life of the mind is the soul. When mind becomes decision, it becomes intellect. When it becomes “I” it is ego. Mind grossified and solidified is called body. Body exists due to the vibrations of mind. As the vibrations are, so is the body. One millennia ago, your son’s mind went after a nymph, Visvachi. Sporting with her for the last 4 billion years his body fell off like a ripened fruit from a tree. Eight hundred years ago he was born again in the race of bramhins and is doing tapas on the bank of holy Ganga.

“If you want to see him, please close your eyes and use your Mystic Torch. The mighty waves of Ganga are shining like silver, sparkling like crystal, coral and moonstones. Near that sacred flow is your son. He has long, matted hair. He has conquered his senses and absorbed his mind into timeless Mystica Transcensia.”

“And Bhrigu replied,

“By strength in the identification of his decisions your son has gone through all of these innumerable forms. Such is the process of creation. If he had remained as clean as you, he would have been as fresh and fulfilled as you are. But I am so sorry… He indeed has a long life. Let’s go and do something to keep his record clean.”

And saying this, Death and Sage Bhrigu embraced like two intimate friends. Holding hands they flew in the sky and came to the Ganga bank.

“There he is.” Death said. “He’s absorbed in deep meditation. Wake him.” Then Bhrigu invoked him from within.

“Like the sun and the moon, oh illustrious great beings, you have arrived here, thank you. Please let me know what service I can do for you?”

“My dear, Remember yourself, who are you.” Said Sage Bhrigu.

“Satatap closed his eyes and saw all of the millions of life forms that he had been through since his life of Shukra. He recognized himself and opening his eyes, he fell at the feet of his Reverend Father. Bhrigu picked him up and embracing him, took him back to Mt. Mandara.

“Upon their arrival Satatap saw his old body lying in that decomposed manner. He felt great agony.”

Now Rama asked,

“Holy Sire, how come? Shukra knew that he had had innumerable bodies. Why did he lament over the decomposition of this one?”

“Because Prince, the first vibration of soulhood which arose in Shukra’s Self was born as the son of the mighty Sage Bhrigu. Thus he had a shining future, but now he saw that he had missed so much. So he lamented.”

“Just like, a king leaves his palace to visit thousands of cities, homes and states, but comes back to his own palace again. Likewise, consider all of your transmigrations as a travel and enter this body. Your future consists of being one of the most prominent spiritual masters of history. So again accept your place here as the son of Bhrigu.” The mighty Death said.

“Saying thus Death dropped flowers on both of them and disappeared. Shukra left Satatap’s body and entered the decomposed body. The former died and disappeared and the latter appeared from the dust again, though still frail and weak.

“Bhrigu sprinkled water from his kamandalu (water pot) and lo, Shukra became alive, healthy, handsome and powerful again, just like a lotus blossoms in the springtime. He rose up from his seat and offered obeisances to his father. At that time two streams of tears flew from his eyes. Both embraced each other for a long time.

“In course of time Shukra founded his own planet, Venus. In Sanskrit it’s name is still Shukra. He also became the spiritual master to the Asura race. He married with Indra’s daughter Jayanti. A daughter was born to them named Devayani. She later married with King Yayati from the Lunar Dynasty, in which Lord Krishna and the Pandavas and Kouravas were born. It is they who fought the greater Intergalactic war called Mahabharata.

“If there would be a mountain of camphor, then there would be fragrance in each atom of it; the same way is Bramha. As soon as you unite with Bramha in Mystica Transcensia, a perfume spreads from you.

“You cannot give birth to a child by touching a photograph of your spouse. You cannot heat your home from an arson shown on Channel 10. You cannot satisfy your hunger by seeing advertisements in Gourmet magazine. You cannot become immortal by licking a picture of a golden jar of nectar. The same way, oratory, discussions, and talks about spirituality cannot let you experience the bliss of Bramha. You have to rise above all attractions of the world and heavens; what to speak of a little food after three days of fasting; you have to be dispassionate. That can happen only when discretion awakens in your heart. And discretion has a wife whose name is introspection.

“With your sunrise of discretion, the darkness of sensational pleasure orientation will automatically disperse. It is one’s friend discretion who destroys this mind enemy who has unjustly invaded the territory of the Self, the bliss, the love, the wisdom. It has to be recaptured, and love allowed to shine in its pristine glory.”

That Great Scientist

“Rama, please listen while I tell you another important allegory.

“Once there was a great dictator by the name of Shambar. He was a great scientist. He worked hard on his new invention and constructed a city in a newly discovered planet. He opened immigration only for the most beautiful, rich, and talented people. He discovered how to turn iron into gold and erected an enormous golden mansion in three days. The planet blossomed into one large city. Each mansion was surrounded by parks, swimming pools, play mountains and lawns. Each home was made of gold and the furniture was made of coral, amber, and pearl. The beds and chairs were made of lapis lazuli. The picnic tables were made of emeralds, jade, and peridot. Their bath tubs were made of moonstone and the water taps and shower nozzles were pure 24 karat gold. The floors were made of crystal.

“Whichever and whenever Shambar wanted, that season came. The entire planet was as if air conditioned. Any object could be used when needed as a television set, computer, satellite, or telephone. Gems and jewels were so luminous that they lit the entire city at night, which was great for pollution control. No light bulbs were needed. No exhaust fumes filled the air. Tigers, elephants, horses and peacocks roamed around the parks of the city peacefully and were used as vehicles for those who did not want to fly their exhaustless airplanes, as often people felt too lazy. Every household owned their own plane, which flew equally well along the ground, across water, or in the air.

“Shambar’s treasury was inexhaustible and his planet was stunning. It became far richer than any planet near the earth. Other planets heard about it and people started to visit. They returned very impressed, and thus the news spread. Suddenly a series of invasions took place from an unknown planet, which was difficult to trace out.

“Whenever Shambar was out, having been invited to a function on some other planet, his planet was attacked. At times the damage was severe. At last the scientist discovered who the trouble maker was. He was very angry. He organized his army and manufactured war-planes to attack. A fierce fight ensued and the enemy was so overcome that they fled the battlefield. After that war, Shambar was confident that there wouldn’t be any more problems. But, the next time he went out, they were attacked again. At last Shambar attacked their planet with a tremendous force. When they ran away again he burned their capital. He looked for them everywhere, but never found them, as the sinful never find God or real holy men. Yet, this trouble still continued.

“At last he created three robots. They were as horrible as death. Their names were Dama, Vy?l, and Kat. He put souls into them. But no passion, no duties, and responsibilities, no dharma, and no feeling. They were programmed only to fight, without thought, just action. They didn’t know pain and suffering, dying or living. They were just great fighters. Even a mountain was like a pebble to them. By their missiles their confrontations were like a living death. All of their enemies were just ground up. Then the enemies went to the mountains and meditated. Bramh?ji appeared and told them that those three war robots could not be conquered unless they developed some ego. He told them to fight in such a way which would break the established custom of their fighting. `Those who have no involvement never fall into bondage. You cannot win an egoless man. After all, how can a fly conquer the air? When a lion is encaged and chained, what is the use of his strength and heroism? As long as ego exists, even powerful, invincible and talented people are like birds chained at the neck, which even a child can pull away. Nobody can catch a free-flying bird. The same way, nothing can crush or destroy one who has no I, my, me notions.’

“Saying this, Bramh?ji disappeared like the waves merged into the ocean.

“The Martians understood the matter. They began to fight in a completely new way, making it up as they went along. The three robots were programmed only in a certain way. Now they became confused! When they were confronted with these new situations for the first time, ego arose, then anger, then fear. They escaped from the battle. But out of fear they could not face Shambar. Instead, they went to the subterranean planets. There they were given political asylum. They married, had a family and began living happily.

“Once the President was visiting. They committed some mistake and were thrown into a pit of fire, along with their entire family. They were completely burned to ashes. In their next lives they became fishermen in Alaska. After that death, they became elephants in Zambia, then vultures in China, storks in South Carolina, and then fishermen again in Bangladesh. After that they became mosquitoes in Venice, then worms in Sri Lanka.

“Thus, Oh Prince Rama, Kat, Byal, and Dam have been through so many lives and suffered millions of pains under the pressure of their passion, which began from ego. Now-a-days they have became alligators in Dal Lake of Kashmir. The water has become dirty and polluted, and eating only grass and lotus roots they are in intense suffering.

“As they are suffering, so are the people of all nations, all societies, and all families. Know this for sure.”

“Holy Sire, when will Mr. Dam, Mr. Byal, and Mr. Kat be free from their suffering?”

“Prince, only when they are fortunate enough to hear the story of their long run of transmigrations.”

“When will that happen?”

“Well, they will be born again and again in a nearby lotus pond, eating lotuses and lilies, and will be born as cranes. By then their sins will be minimized. Then that group of three will separate from each other. There is a hill in Kashmir. A city will be founded upon it overlooking the panoramic view of the snow-clad, magnificent Himalayas. On that hill, on one plateau Northwest of the King’s palace, there will be a pond. The King will construct a marble temple on its bank. He will come to bathe in that moonstone and phenakite studded stair pond. He will go to worship in the temple every dusk and dawn. He will sit upon those pillars and watch the beauty of the lotuses closing and the sun setting on the western horizon. His name will be King Sri Shankar Deo. Then, in one of the corners of the temple’s roof, Dam will be born as a bird. While the King is watching the sun set and rise he will chirp and fly around. The King will look and be happy and write poems. Then he will become a mosquito in the same temple. Then he’ll become a parrot. The King will like him and keep him in a gold gem studded cage. His minister will be a wise man named Narasimha. Looking at the bird one day and observing his past through his powerful Mystic Torch, Narasimha will compose poems depicting all that Dam has gone through in his innumerable lives. He will experience all those happenings as though watching them on a television screen of his unconscious mind. Then his ego will evaporate and he will be liberated. After some time, in the form of a bird, Byal will arrive and hearing all this from Dama he too will be liberated. Then, in the form of a mosquito Kat will arrive, and hearing this from them, he will attain. In their next lives they will be born as humans and their senses will be like their servants.”

“Holy Sire, what happened to the scientist Shambar and his planet?”

“Just like, to a child a shadow seems to be a ghost, the same way the mind projects this diversity upon itself. Whatever kind of passion is the lead and guide man, that kind of body, appearance, and lifestyle is provided. In a nutshell, it is all a mental projection. There is no peace without transcending it. Let this voice keeping hammering on your rock-like, thick, passion-clustered brain until this point become clear.”

Education Supreme

“Holy Sire, Bramha is all peace, bliss, and love, but the world is full of suffering, hatred, and disease. How did this dirt come to exist from that?”

“Prince, this world is synonymous to Bramha. It is non-different from Bramha. Whatever dirt there appears to be, it is not true. The waves do not pollute the beauty of the ocean. Just like warmth is non-different from fire, coolness from water, whiteness from milk, the same way, the world is Bramha. As long as this fact remains unreal, so long one needs to practice meditation.

“World is Bramha’s finest magical art, like fructifying stone in vines, and vines on stone. It makes the earth sky, and sky earth. It makes a park in the sky and a cloud in the river; a gemmed cave with the sky reflecting in it. You have to be capable and talented enough to compete with Bramha to recognize his reality and never to be confused and shattered.

“Rama, I’ve told you before, but just like waves are obvious in the water, and sprouts are natural to the seed, and leaves, flowers and fruit are all inside the seed, the same way, all physical bodies, accidents, and problems are inside the mind. Even if the body is destroyed and there is no body left, the mind will create a new body. As it creates one in a dream or in anticipation. The world too is situated in the vibrant mind.”

“Holy Sire, please tell me, how did the first emanation of soul sprout from Bramha?”

“It is by his pleasure potency that Bramha manifested space, time and action. Struck with desire the potency of pleasure turned into a restless mind. Then sound was speculated and sky came into existence. Then like a new little child, touch ability came up and air was born. When they clashed sight ability arose with the element of fire, then taste ability emerged and the element of water from that. Then smell appeared and earth came into existence. Each of them brought with them ear, skin, eyes, mouth, and nose. These eight components were called puryastaka. This became the bumble bee of the lotus of the physical body known as jiva.

“Forcing his supersonic will of separate existence, this soul assumes the form of mind just as due to juice from a seed of the tree a flower blossoms, similarly, in the clean, open sky this body appeared.

“Above head, below feet, four directions hands, in between the trunk, as a new child, Bramh?ji appeared clean and fresh. This form of Bramh? is the original prototype of us all. From him emanates this gross body of 32 teeth, 9 gates, 5 senses, large torso, shaping and reshaping, designing and redesigning in millions and billions of forms. This body is a nest of the soul bird. It is the sporting and business center international for the sex god Cupid and a residence of the terrible goblin Passion. It is the only cave for the soul lion, and a dense jungle for the ego elephant.

The Story of D?sura

“Dear boy, why do you cry, don’t you understand the world is ever-changing? Nothing here is stable. One who is born will definitely die one day. Before the inevitable death comes, please do the needful.”

“Hearing this, Dasur felt that he was not alone, and that some wise being was on his side. His heart became pleased as a peacock hearing the thunder of clouds. He performed the last rites of his parentsthen, and then decided to dedicate his efforts to deep meditation. He searched for an appropriate place, but his deep insight knew the events, accidents, deaths, and whatever occurred there in the past, stretching back millions of years. He traveled all over the world but could not find a single place which was absolutely pure and holy.

“One day he saw a Kadamba tree on the peak of a nearby mountain. He reduced his weight and made a perch on the top of the tree as other birds had made their nests. A small beautiful cottage adorned that tree. All the birds revered him and learned silence in his proximity, and they became his disciples.

“Now Dasur began meditating day in and day out. He saw the entire world appearance as a cosmic lady doll, just like that forest goddess. The blue sky was her head, the light was her blonde hair, the lower regions were her feet, and she was wearing clothes of clouds upon her limbs. The ocean, mountains, and rivers were her ornaments, the storms were her breasts, infatuation and illusion were her body, and the trees were her body hairs. The sun and moon were her ear rings, the ranges her bangles, and the directions her hands. The pound were her mirrors, fire was her pitta, water her kapha, and air her vat. This entire visible sight was one large beautiful maiden to him.

“He lived on top of the tree bough, and at times would come out from his hut and walk around on a leaf. Sitting on a top-high leaf he meditated for many years. His heart became purified just like a clean, autumn pool, and the knowledge of Bramha suddenly illumined.

“One day he saw the forest goddess adorned in a beautiful sari, wearing a crown and ornaments of leaves and flowers. She was walking toward him. She had large eyes, flower-like teeth, and a most charming appearance. Her pleasure was overflowing through each of her limbs, and her bashful smile spread mystical waves in the air. Seeing her he said,

“Who are you, oh lotus eyed Mystical Lady? Your presence is so mighty that my entire ashram has become illumined. Please let me know, your Holiness, what service I can do for you?”

“I am the goddess of this forest, oh great hearted one. With my friends I often stroll around and enjoy here. We know you. We travel in and through innumerable planets. I heard your praise even in Indra’s assembly. Recently I felt a great desire to become a mother. Motherhood is indeed a perfection to womanhood. Without being a mother, maturity of mind and heart don’t touch a woman’s life. Life remains barren, sensual, selfish and lonely. In order to learn greater lessons of selflessness, oh Dasur, please accept me as your own and offer me a son.” She said.

“Dear goddess, thank you very much for your benign conclusion. Indeed motherhood is the essence of evolution of a woman. Here, please take this fruit,” and Dasur stretched out his hand and picked up a ripe fruit. Giving it to her he said,” Eat this and you will have a very handsome and amiable son. But since you haven’t attained platonic love in your heart yet, your son will be, as usual, ignorant of the Truth. But he will have a possibility to attain. Through effort he will attain.” He said.

“Holy Sire, let me stay here and serve you please.”

“Beautiful lady, you should better stay with the forest goddesses. When your son is ten years old, bring him here and I will educate him.”

“The forest goddess left. After ten months she gave birth to a very handsome and smart son. She enjoyed pouring all the love of her heart upon him. As Kousalya loved you Rama, as Yashoda loved her child, similarly she loved and rejoiced. When he became ten years old she brought him to the sage and requested him to begin his education. Dasur very gladly accepted. He instructed the son to make a cottage nearby on the bank of the river and to shower before dawn, worship, and meditate, then to come to see him every day at 9:30 a.m. He told him to listen to him until 11:30, take a second bath, meditate, eat lunch and rest. Then he said to return at 1:30 to listen again until 4:30, and then to take a final bath, worship, meditate, and come back at 8:30 to listen until 12:30. Then he was to go to meditate, and if needed to lie down and rest or rest in adept posture deep in the state of Mystica transcensia.

“The boy did everything he was told very carefully. He adored his father and loved him, and always starved to listen to his knowledge.

“Prince Rama,” Vasistha said in the royal assembly, “One morning I came to Mt. Kailash to take a bath in holy Ganga from my Star (Sage Vasistha is provided with his own planet since he is one of the Sapta Rishis). After my bath and meditation I began to wander all around moving in the sky. I saw this very interesting sight. Both were seated in lotus posture on a large leaf absorbed in the joy of imparting and receiving the supreme knowledge. Hovering in the space I began to listen…

“My dear child, there is a King whose name is Swetatha. He has always dozens of plans and projects. He is engaged in hundreds and thousands of activities always. He is always busy. His business is such that the busiest person of America, like the President, Morgan, Carnegie, or Rothchild appear to be too lazy and parasitic. You can’t count the number of his beginnings, just as you cannot count the waves of the ocean. And he is powerful too. Extremely so. No invasion of natural elements can blow him off. Just like you can’t smash the sky, no matter how hard you dash your first, no matter how big a boxer you are like Mike Tyson, the same way neither he nor any of his projects could ever come to any harm.

“In the open sky he created a magnificent garden. On the mountain top he has a palace towering into the sky. Surrounded by garlands of fragrant lotuses and pearl necklaces, with gem studded walls, his mansion lights up the entire Universe like New York City at night. Such is his splendorous capital. Its name is Future City.

“He has three bodies, white, red, and black. He has two lights constantly burning without oil. The light is both hot and cold, also warm and cool. He has people long-lived and short-lived. Some are well dressed and others are naked. He has nine gates in his capital. There are five light towers, and three pillars. He has three provinces, and when he desires he dies and is born again with a fresh new body to enjoy his empire all over again.”

“Holy Father, how amazing. Could you tell me please who is this King Swetatha? I never read about him in the history, nor have I heard his name among the living Kings. Please explain about this mystic King?” The boy asked.

“Dear son, listen. The Sankalpa, one’s will, is King Svetatha. This world is his Empire. The body is his palace. Will always lives in the future. He has three palaces in three provinces of the past, present, and future. The sun and moon are his two oilless lamps. It is his past will which has become the samskaras now which motivate his present. The five senses are the light towers. Just like there is a serpent in a hole, the same way is ego in the hand of the nine gates, which are the outlets of the body. Sattva, rajas, and tamas, the modes of peace, passion, and lethargy are his three bodies of will. When he wills he assumes different bodies — more than 8,000,000 in number.

“Dear son, even if you do tapas and yajnas for millions of years, tinify your body, or even obtain the blessings of the gods, you cannot get out of this life’s puzzle until you dismiss the Prime Number of Sankalpa. Therefore, focus all your might to discontinue the will, the desire, the thought, and evaporate them just like a mist vanishes at sun rise.”

“Dear Father, what is this Sankalpa? Could you please tell me?”

“When the transformation of consciousness runs extrovert, it turns into sight. Just as air becomes water, and water becomes cloud, cloud becomes rain and rain becomes flood. The same way, as soon as a modification splits from samvit and moves towards the sight, object, and scene, then will becomes solid and the world appearance becomes a reality. World is just a vast fabrication of will. Ocean is nothing but water. The water is nothing but air; the same way this world is nothing but will. Will is nothing but one desire chosen among many. Desire is nothing but selected thought. Just like one thread combined with other threads becomes a jacket, but really jacket does not exist. Only a heap of threads exists.

“In order to eradicate this vast fabrication of will, you have to develop a greater will. This which shows the world is a negative will. You have to evolve a positive will. It on can be cut through iron alone. It is a special iron which is as slippery as a wave, harder than steel, more inaccessible than orgasmic joy: such is the mind. When passion is dissolved, it automatically vanishes.

“Therefore, whenever passion arises, dismiss it. Drop it and give a suggestion to yourself that all that is visible, thinkable, and experiencable is baseless, false, and has never really happened. This dream occurred due to being a lightweight zombie. This way, dismiss this garbage-like world. Dump it out from your consciousness. It is neither mine, nor yours, nor anyone else’s. Out of illusion alone it is appearing. Just transcend it down.”

“Prince Rama, as soon as he completed his teaching, I appeared to them as light. They stood up and greeted me with immense reverence. They offered me a heart-felt reception and then we sat down on one of the large leaves at that top of that Kadamba tree and began conversing. We both infused the light of great wisdom in the life of his son. I saw the tree lush, green, rich with flowers and fruits and maple syrup was dripping off of its boughs. Underneath many deer, peacocks and cows were roaming and licking that syrup. A little above and below from us many cuckoos, parrots, and swans were sitting and singing.

“We spent the whole night in satsanga, (holy talks). Early the next morning when I departed the boy had become enlightened. His face was shining like a brilliant topaz. They stood up above in the sky for many miles to give me a good farewell. I felt so much love for them. Looking at each other again and again I flew towards the Milkyway and they returned to their tree-top hut.

“Sri Rama, there is nothing in the world which can attract an enlightened heart. Worldly people are being flown, tossed, and turned in the mighty waves of the Colorado River of this world. Can one who has seen the Lasy and Tandav dances of Parvati and Shiva ever be allured to a monkey’s dance? Can a smart guy ever become allured to the reflection of a gem in a jar?”

Story of Kacha

“Rama, listen to another story. Long ago Kacha, the son of the celebrated Sage Brihaspati sat on a most beautiful hilltop of Mt. Meru. He closed his eyes in meditation and lo, became saturated with immense joy and a wonderful song erupted from his heart…

“Oh, what can I do, where could I go, to whom can I surrender? The entire universe is permeated with one pure true Self. Misery is Self, joy is Self, all of these mountains, rivers, and forests are the Self; all animals, birds, and people are the Self. Outside, inside, here, there and everywhere– it is all My Self and none else, nothing else at all. Whatever is– is me alone, filling the entire cosmos. Because of filling the entirety with myself, I am Bhairava!”

“Singing this he chanted AUM loudly and entered into a deepest state of Bramha experience. The directions stood still and silent. Flowers showered and a great light emerged and flooded in and out, all over. And Rama, Kacha is still sitting there in nirvikalpa samadhi.”

The Story of Bramh?

“Holy Sire, please tell me how the world emanated from such an abstract Self?” Sri Rama asked.

“Mixed and remixed, all of these names, forms and actions began to flow in a continuity of creation.”

When Vasistha stopped, a pin drop silence spread. These wonderful discourses of Sage Vasistha showered nectar in the hearts of all listeners. Their happy faces looked like bloomed lotuses of a clean autumn pond. The ladies kept gazing unwinkingly at the stage where Sri Rama along with his brothers were sitting with Sage Vasistha, alongside King Dasaratha and Visvamitra. Everyone offered their respect and left for the night.

In the night, Sri Rama began his contemplation….. “Who is the wonderer in this dream of the world? From where have all these beings come and to where are they all going? What is the nature of the mind? How will it ever have peace? From where arises this maya? How does ego enter? Like an alligator grabbed by a mighty elephant, the world has captured the human soul … How can it ever be free? Fallen in the spider web of illusion of I, my, me, all are suffering helplessly. The spider Time is coming closer at every moment. What is the way out? This ghost of world-appearance is becoming heavier and heavier, harder and harder. In the clouds of sensual necessities, my intuition and insights are being lost… What is the remedy? When will I attain peace? When shall I find the eternal rest in my true Self?

“Oh, when will I drop my burning fever of I, me, me notions? When will my mind remain calm like a flame in a windless room. When shall I be separate from this stinky body? Intellect, you are my sister. You memorize exactly what Gurudev has said. First was dispassion, the second was liberation interaction, the third was the origin of creation, the fourth was the maintenance. Remember them over and over. Unless decided firmly, all actions are fruitless.

“The cloud of autumn appears wonderful, but contains no water, and is therefore fruitless. So also, without bearing the information in one’s heart, without upholding the knowledge in one’s mind, nothing succeeds…”

Contemplating thus, Prince Rama entered into a deep state of Mystic Trance. It fulfilled the need of sleep, and the night passed. The morning raga echoed, along with the awakening songs of the birds. After a dip in the holy Sarayu, all of the princes came to Sage Vasistha’s ashram.

A pre-dawn darkness was still prevailing. The Sage was absorbed deep in meditation. All of the brothers offered their obeisances and stood with folded hands. As the sun spread his golden arms in all directions, the Sage opened his eyes. The princes offered their obeisances again and Vasistha blessed them. Then, holding the hands of Sage Visvamitra, Vasistha rode on the bramhin chariot and came to Dasaratha’s palace. Among great jubilation they all took a delicious breakfast, and then came to the Royal Assembly Hall amidst the large gathering of citizens and visiting dignitaries.

Sage Vasistha sat on a golden throne, and Sri Rama sat before him. The sun rays peeped in through the crystal windows and skylights, and the lotuses bloomed, spreading their perfume in the assembly hall. Everyone sat with gratitude in anticipation of the days wonder-filling stories on the reality of life. Vasistha’s mind was like a spotlight to illumine any aspect of creation for the elucidation of a particular point in question for his dearly beloved disciple. His love, wisdom, and blazing mystic vision were over-flowing, filling the room with unworldly vibrations. All were confident, all had trust in this mighty Sage, who never left them dangling; never dropped them in the chasm of confusion. One by one the threads of the cloth of illusion were being unstrung, unwound. Disembodied, their minds were established on the terrace of broadened perspective, and thus all sat with great anticipation for the day’s enlightening discourse to begin.